
CojpgM - 



CQFmi&wr DEPOSIT 




Catharine Elizabeth Goethe. 
After an Engraving in Robert Koenig's "Deutsche Liieratnrgeschichte." 




Johann Caspar Lavater. 



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Goethe's Mother. 



CORRESPONDENCE OF CATHARINE ELIZABETH GOETHE 

WITH GOETHE, LAVATER, WIELAND, DUCHESS ANNA 

AMALIA OF SAXE-WEIMAR, FRIEDRICH VON 

STEIN, AND OTHERS. 

Cranslatetr from tin (Smiratt, 

WITH THE ADDITION OF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND NOTES, 



ALFRED S. GIBBS. 





WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY 

CLARENCE COOK. 



NEW YORK: 

Dodd, Mead & Company, 

Publishers. 



£>6 






copyright, 

By Dodd, Mead & Company. 

1880. 



LC Control Number 



tmp96 031508 



' ' The mother was more like what we conceive as the proper parent 
for a poet. She is one of the pleasantest figures in German literature, 
and one standing ozit with greater vividness than almost any other. 
Her simple, hearty, joyous, and affectionate nature endeared her to all. 
She was the delight of children, the favorite of poets and princes. To 
the last retaining her enthusiasm and simplicity, mingled with great 
shrewdness and knowledge of character, Frau Aja, as they christened 
her, was at once grave and hearty, dignified and simple. She had 
read most of the best German and Italian authors, had picked up con- 
siderable desultory information, and had that mother-wit which so ofteti 
seems to render culture superfluous in women" 

Lewes' Life of Goethe. 

" 'She zuas worthy of life,' said her great son to me in the year 
1814, when he revisited his paternal city. ' How intense was her at- 
tachment to her friends ; how efficient a mediator and helper ; how faith- 
ful and discreet a confidante was she! She used to say, "Don't lose 
your presence of mind because the wind blows roughly ; and think of 
Wieland's words, 'Die Hand die uns durch dieses Dunkel fiihrt ' — 
the hand that leads us through this darkness.'" (See page 42.) 



TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 



The letters composing the'following collection have 
been obtained chiefly from the following sources : 

1. Reminiscenzen. Herausgegeben von Dr. Do- 
row. Leipzig, 1842. 

2. Briefe von Goethe und dessen Mutter an Fried- 
rich, Freiherrn von Stein. Herausgegeben von Dr. 
J. J. H. Ebers und Dr. August Kahlert. Leipzig, 
1846. 

3. Frau Rath. Briefwechsel von Katharina Elisa- 
beth Goethe. Nach den Originalen mitgetheilt von 
Robert Keil. Leipzig, 1871. 

Further, two unpublished pamphlets printed for 
private circulation, viz. : 

4. Briefe der Frau Rath an ihre lieben Enkeleins. 
Zwolf Briefe von Goethe's Eltern an Lavater. 

The most recent and complete collection is that of 
Dr. Keil, in which may be found, arranged in chrono- 
logical order, the best of the previously published let- 
ters, with the addition of thirty-four from Goethe's 
mother, and fifty-three from her various correspond- 
ents not heretofore published. 

There are a few letters attributed to Goethe's 
mother in Bettina von Arnim's " Goethe's Correspond- 
ence with a Child," of which there is an English trans- 
lation. These I have not included in my selection, 
for Bettina's clever and amusing work has fallen, as 
regards reliability, into general discredit. 



vi Translator s Preface. 

One of the charms of the following letters is their 
quaintness — a quality which, in great measure, they 
must unavoidably lose in translation. An attempt 
to reproduce this characteristic in another language 
would, I believed, result only in a feeble imitation. 
I have, however, made a somewhat literal version, 
and have not sought in it to avoid a quaint and anti- 
quated tone when it lent itself naturally to the trans- 
lation. Traces here and there of their strange and 
foreign origin did not seem to me objectionable in 
familiar letters, where the manner is oftentimes as 
important as the matter. 



TO THE READER. 



There are human characters which, like the prism, 
present nothing remarkable to the observer who 
looks at them from a certain side ; but seen at a 
different angle they touch the commonplaces of life 
with many-colored light. Such a character was that 
of the translator of the following letters ; and all 
who knew him well must have shared the regret felt 
by the friend of more than thirty years whose mourn- 
ful lot it is to lay this memorial flower upon his 
grave, that a light so serene and lovely as beamed 
from his character could not have cheered a wider 
circle. Had circumstances pushed him earlier into 
the ranks of. those who serve the public with the 
pen, we friends who know what were his powers of 
observation and his skill in description cannot doubt 
that he would have distinguished himself from the 
crowd, if only as a writer of travels. His letters, 
which came to us stayers-at-home from all parts — ■ 
from Italy, Germany, France, and England — turned 
the light of his quiet humor upon many a corner of 
these countries little known to the general, and set 
before us such lively and varied pictures in a style 
so limpid and easy, that we often wished for the 
right to make the public a sharer in our private pleas- 
ure. Persuaded by friendly hints, he wrote now and 



viii To the Reader. 

then foi the newspapers and magazines, but he could 
not be altogether at ease with the public, and we 
missed the flow of spirits and the abundant humor, 
playing on a background of common-sense and 
shrewdness, which made his private letters so wel- 
come. 

His character was strongly marked, though he 
had so serene a disposition, with such quiet man- 
ners, that only those who knew him well could guess 
how deep were his convictions and how firm he was 
in guarding them. He shunned controversy, and 
unwillingly put his own opinion forward, yet was 
ever stanch and true when convinced that any cause 
required his advocacy. Those who only saw him in 
the sunshine of life and in the happy circle of friends 
could not know the strength of his will, his immov- 
ableness, when once his feet were planted in the 
place where it was right for him to stand. But with 
all this strength he was free from any taint of pug- 
nacity or obstinacy. He could resist, but it was the 
resistance the rock • makes to the pressure of the 
stream, hiding its refusal under a cushion of sunlit 
moss, and sweetened with a chance-sown root of 
violet. 

He knew the meaning of friendship, and in that 
domain he held a gentle sway. But his idea of this 
affectionate relation was a generous one, and had for 
its foundation an absolute equality. His integrity 
was almost childlike in its simplicity. He was not 
lavish of his heart, but when he gave it he gave it 
wholly, and he looked in his friend for the sincerity 
he himself showed. But he had his reserves, and 
respected those of others, nor would rashly intrude, 



To the Reader. ix 

but on invitation said strongly what seemed to him 
the fitting word, aid knew better than to speak 
smooth things when truth was needed. 

His departure was sudden, and the news that he 
was indeed gone came like lightning out of a clear 
sky. But when the shock was over, and those who 
loved him were able to think on what had happened, 
it seemed the crown of good fortune to have been 
rapt from the battle without so much as the smell of 
fire upon his garments. For his health had all his life 
been'sound, though never robust, and to his friends no 
warning had been shown that the end was near. To sit 
at table with your friend in the bright holiday season, 
welcoming him home after ten years of absence ; to 
draw chairs about the gleaming fire when the other 
guests have gone, and renew in the last hours of the 
dying year the memories of by-gone days ; to part at 
the door and watch for a few moments the well-known 
form disappearing in the cold and gas-lit streets of 
winter, while we returned to the warmth and light ; 
and then after two days to read the dreadful telegram 
that said " Our friend is gone" — how like a dream, 
after such an experience, seems life to those who 
remain ! 

Alfred Seymour Gibbs, the only son and youngest 
child of Alfred Gibbs and Hannah Nye (there were 
six daughters, all but two of whom lived to woman's 
estate, though but one of all survives the only broth- 
er), was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, July 
II, 1830, and died in the city of New York, Decem- 
ber 29, 1879. His education was carefully conduct- 
ed, first at the Friends' Academy in New Bedford, 
and afterward at the Phillips Academy at Andover. 



x To the Reader. 

He was ready to enter college at sixteen, but delayed 
applying for admission for a year owing to a lack of 
robustness in his health, and by the advice of friends 
who thought twenty-one young enough to graduate. 
He accordingly entered Harvard College in 1847, but 
only remained there two years, and never graduated 
in form. The writer first made his acquaintance as a 
fellow-lodger in the house of the late Eliza Lee Fol- 
len, who was living in Cambridge while her son, 
Charles Follen, was making his terms. The house 
Mrs. Follen occupied being too large for her needs, 
she consented to give up the vacant rooms to two 
collegians who should prefer a home in a private 
family to life " in the yard." Charles Follen and 
the writer being in the same class, that of 1849, I nac ^ 
already been admitted to the privilege of rooms in 
his mother's house, and on a day we were informed 
that a young man from New Bedford, a Freshman, 
was to have the remaining apartment. Seymour 
Gibbs appeared, a slightly-built, gentlemanly youth, 
with an earnest but winning face, and with manners 
of a frank sweetness that made friends at once. Be- 
tween us three there began an intimacy which was 
to make an important element in all our lives, a 
friendship which never suffered even a moment's 
temporary eclipse, and which, now that all but one 
of the circle are gone from this earth — 

" All, all are gone, the old familiar faces !" 

is looked back upon by the survivor as a shattered 
dream of happiness for whose long stay in a world 
where so much is fleeting a man cannot be too 
grateful. 



To the Reader. xi 

In a notice of my friend's lite, however short, it 
would not do to pass over in silence such an impor- 
tant event in his education as the two years spent un- 
der Mrs. Follen's roof. Both she and her sister, Miss 
Cabot, were women who would have honored any so- 
ciety ; but the influence brought to bear upon Sey- 
mour's life by this association was more important 
than could have been exerted by any merely social op- 
portunities. Of such opportunities, indeed, he did not 
stand in need ; but it is only at certain epoch-making 
times, such as was this of 1847-9, that society ranges 
itself into camps and draws together in groups the 
leaders of the hostile forces contending for the mas- 
tery. Mrs. Follen and her sister were important fac- 
tors in the anti-slavery movement that makes those 
years so famous in our history ; and at Mrs. Follen's 
house we youths were accustomed to see many of 
the most active workers in the anti-slavery cause. 
Here came Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garri- 
son, Theodore Parker, Mrs. Maria Weston Chap- 
man ; and at the times of the annual convention 
and the anti-slavery fair there was scarcely a nota- 
ble person on the anti-slavery side who did not 
present himself at a house where not only was a wel- 
come assured, but a welcome graced by all that was 
noble and lovely in woman's hospitality. Mrs. Fol- 
len's circle was by no means restricted to the party 
in whose councils she shared. She was related by 
blood to many of the families who threw their influ- 
ence into the opposite scale ; and as it was impossible 
for such a personality as hers — with her beauty of 
person, her gracious dignity of manner, combined 
with a childlike simplicity and directness, and a ready 



xii To the Reader. 

wit — to be dropped out of any circle to which it 
naturally belonged, for mere political differences, 
we were saved from the narrowness that must have 
come if we had been confined to look upon one side 
of life alone, even were that side the possessor of all 
the virtues. How far we profited by our opportu- 
nity is a point I will not attempt to determine, but 
it is certain that to few young men in college is such 
an opportunity offered as was ours in those rich years. 
In 1849 Charles Follen graduated, and he deter- 
mined to go to Europe for a few years to carry his stud- 
ies still farther. He was accompanied by his mother 
and aunt, Miss Cabot. After the departure of 
his friends, young Gibbs took lodgings in the col- 
lege yard, but his temperament was unfit for that 
mode of life, and he could not study in his new sur- 
roundings. His health, too, drooped, and he at 
length decided to leave college for a time and to 
join his friends in Europe. He went abroad, and 
met the party in London in the same year, or per- 
haps early in 1850. During the first year of his ab- 
sence he kept up certain of his college studies with 
much diligence, in anticipation of rejoining his class 
and graduating in due form from Harvard, but he 
finally determined to remain abroad for another 
year. In the society of these friends he found 
many of the most delightful houses in England 
opened to him, and the opportunity of seeing the 
most notable people of a time when England, 
owing to the revolutions going on on the Continent, 
was rich in distinguished exiles, beside her own 
wealth in famous men and women. Mrs. Follen's 
long and intimate friendship with several of the 



To the Reader. xiii 

leaders in the intellectual world of London gave her 
a right to the hospitality of a society whose iron 
doors, though obdurate enough in general, turn on 
softest hinges at the call of such voices as hers. In 
company with these ladies and his friend Charles 
Follen, Seymour Gibbs passed two happy years, 
enjoying to the full, opportunities of seeing the 
world which were worth far more as education to a 
youth of his turn of mind than the same time spent 
in college could have been. 

He returned to America in the summer of 1851, 
and, receiving no encouragement from the business 
connections of his late father to enter a merchant's 
office, to which he had looked forward, he decided, 
after some months of reflection, to take up the study 
of medicine, though having in reality no inclination 
for that or any other of the prescribed routines. 
The things he liked best in this world were study, 
reading, and the society of his friends, and could he 
have had these he would have been easily content 
with the most modest way of living. He was no as- 
cetic, yet he was content and even happy with a little, 
and all his life set an example of moderation, living at 
at ease and moving without embarrassment in circum- 
stances that would have hampered many other men. 
Still, it seemed best to his friends and to himself that 
he should have a part to play, and he chose that of the 
physician. He went to Philadelphia in the autumn 
of 1852, and attended lectures in the Pennsylvania 
Medical College, and graduated in 1856, in which 
year his diploma is dated. 

At the outbreak of the war he suffered very keenly 
from a sense of his physical inability to take part in 



xiv To the Reader. 

the general uprising ; for though, as I have said, his 
health had all his life been sound, his constitution was 
delicate. In March, 1862, when military hospitals 
were springing up in Philadelphia, he offered himself 
as an assistant surgeon, and was appointed to the 
South Street Hospital. But at that time no medical 
man of his age and education had volunteered for this 
service, and friends earnestly dissuaded him from his 
offer by the advice that " he was too good a man for 
the place." Still he persisted, this seeming to him 
the duty that lay nearest, and a little later he found no 
lack of companions of the same education as himself. 
In fact, so clear was his mind that he could not stand 
by an idle spectator of the conflict, that it was a great 
satisfaction to him when the hospital service gave him 
an opportunity to go forward. He hesitated some- 
what, from a fear that he might fail in executive 
power. The first men who were put under him were 
not wounded men, but those who had fallen off on 
the march or in camp. They were without discipline, 
and often drunk and unruly. The building which 
was fitted up in South Street to receive these men 
was not completed when Dr. Gibbs took charge, and 
on one occasion he had three hundred unruly men 
under his care for three days and nights before Dr. 
Neil had leisure to appoint other officers and get the 
hospital well organized. 

After the battle of Gettysburg Dr. Gibbs was 
transferred to the field-hospital there, where he re- 
mained for a few weeks only. From thence he was 
sent to the Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia, 
and was attached to the service of that institution 
until the close of the war. 



To the Reader. xv 

From this time until 1870 Dr. Gibbs continued to 
live in Philadelphia, in the nominal practice of his 
profession. But though he had been very happy in 
the hospital service, where his work and his charac- 
ter were highly valued and made him many friends, 
he could not feel an interest in private practice. I 
do not know if he hated sick people, as I lately 
heard one eminent medical man say of himself, but 
he really had very little sympathy with the thousand 
and one mild distempers that are so much for the 
moment to those who think they suffer them, and so 
little in reality. Boston gossip used to say of her 
most eminent surgeon that he could not forgive a 
man who successfully resisted an amputation, and 
no doubt every medical man likes a " bad case." 
But the most part of cases are not bad, and our 
practitioner's benevolence was not large enough to 
take in the little shivering influenzas and toothaches 
that rang his bell at night, or pulled at his sleeve 
when he was deep in study. His private practice 
had indeed never been sufficient to create an in- 
terest in it, and he determined to husband his 
pecuniary resources by spending some years in Eu- 
rope, and in May, 1871, in company with his only 
surviving sister, he sailed for Europe, intending to 
stop abroad for several years. He did indeed remain 
until 1879, returning to America in August of that year. 

Dr. Gibbs and his sister joined the writer and his 
wife in Paris, but the time was ill-chosen, for war was 
in the horizon, and it came all too soon for the hap- 
piness we had promised ourselves. We were whirled 
apart ; they to Switzerland, we to Italy, and it was 
long before the uproar subsided enough for us to 



xvi To the Reader. 

communicate with one another. From Switzerland 
Dr. Gibbs went down, the next year, to Italy ; but we 
had already broken up our winter quarters in Flor- 
ence, and were moving about from one place of inter- 
est to another ; and as the chances of travel would 
have it, we did not meet again till we met at home 
nine years afterward. After spending four years 
on the Continent, our friend passed the remainder of 
the time he was abroad in England and Scotland. 
His letters, during all this time, were a great source of 
pleasure and instruction to us at home, making allow- 
ance for his almost humorous heat in the advo- 
cacy of the French cause in the Franco-Prussian war, 
or rather, for he was not blind to the fault of 
the French let me say, his heat in denouncing the 
Germans, for whom he had but few good words. 
It was not from ignorance of the Germans that he 
disliked them ; he had lived much among them, and 
he had an intimate acquaintance with their language, 
which he read freely, as well as with their history and 
their literature. Nor did he carry his feeling farther 
than the general, but had friends enough among that 
people, and friendships enough. It was a matter of 
temperament and sympathy ; and, in spite of a thou- 
sand righteous demands made on our admiration by 
the German people, it must be owned he shared his 
preference for the French, his delight in their genius, 
and his enjoyment of their language, with many of his 
countrymen. I may add that besides his knowledge 
of the German language, which he wrote and spoke 
with fluency, he was a very accurate French scholar. 
Indeed, he had a turn for languages, and while in 
Italy made a close study of Italian. 



To the Reader. xvii 

So much it has seemed well to say of the per- 
sonality of the translator, who has given us the 
following interesting correspondence. Perhaps 
the sympathetic reader may feel with me, that he 
has added to our picture-gallery of good women a 
portrait it would have been a pity to lose. Goethe's 
mother, seen in the light of these letters, is indeed one 
of the most cheerful figures in the literary history of 
the last century. Her warm heart, overflowing with 
affection for her friends, her motherly worship of her 
son, and her delight in everything that he did and 
everything that he wrote, are never tiresome, how- 
ever often met with. And yet, with all this enthu- 
siasm, we are equally struck with her strong common- 
sense, her clear perception, and her shrewdness, to- 
gether with the transparent honesty of her speech. 
We feel, as we read, how important a part such a 
woman must have played in the society of her time, 
a rude society, for all its intellectual splendor, but 
rude rather by what it lacked than by any positive 
traits. What the Duchess Amalia was to the little 
Court of Weimar, and through that to the other 
aboriginal courts of Germany — 

" not yet appeared 
And struggling to get free their hinder parts." — 

Goethe's mother was to the rich bourgeoisie of Frank- 
fort and to the world of fruitiul but untrained liter- 
rary society that delighted in her as much for 
her own sake as for her relation to the greatest Ger- 
man of his time. Even her piety, old-fashioned and 
orthodox as it seems in these runagate times, has 
something rich and inspiring about it, and indeed it 



xviii To the Reader. 

is of a higher strain than that piety of Germans and 
English against which Mr. Matthew Arnold has lifted 
so irreverent a spear. Frau Rath is in some sort 
a Homeric woman, a mate for Andromache and 
Penelope ; to come nearer home, she carries us, as we 
read, to Shakespeare's world, and we place her in 
memory's gallery side by side with Volumnia. 



My thanks are due to the publisher of Scribner 's 
Monthly, my good friend, Roswell-Smith, Esq., for 
his permission to reprint an article on the Goethe 
House at Frankfort, written by Dr. Gibbs for his 
magazine, and contained in the number for Novem- 
ber, 1875. It is printed as an appendix to the present 
volume. 

An article, consisting of a selection from the letters 
cf Goethe's mother, was prepared by Dr. Gibbs, and 
printed \n Lippificotf s Magazine for November, 1879. 
This was also politely placed at my disposal by the 
publisher of that magazine, together with an electro- 
type of the portrait of the Frau Rath, which is placed 
as a frontispiece to this book. The article itself con- 
tained nothing but what appears in the present 
work. 

With regard to the spelling of proper names and 
German words, I hesitated for a while between uni- 
formity, and following the practice of the different 
letter-writers. Finally I decided for the latter, and I 
hope the judgment of the reader will go along with 
me in the matter. The irregular spelling and some- 
times risky grammar of the Frau Rath give a per- 



To the Reader. xix 

sonal flavor to her letters, and help make up their ex- 
ternal individuality. As the proofs have been read 
with care, it is hoped that the reader will not charge 
to carelessness variations in spelling which are really 
to be ascribed to the desire of the translator and edi- 
tor to " follow copy." 

Clarence Cook. 

New York, 171 West Tenth St., 
November, 1880. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Catharine Elizabeth Textor was born at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main, February the 19th, 1 73 1 . 
Her father's great-grandfather, Wolfgang Weber, had 
according to the fashion of his time, Latinized the 
humble name of Weber into Textor. Why, does 
not appear, unless we accept the reason Oilman, in 
" Goetz von Berlichingen," gave for changing his 
name into Olearius : " to avoid," he said, " the inap- 
propriateness of that name on the title-page of my 
Latin writings." " You did well to translate it," re- 
joins Liebetraut ; " a prophet is without honor in his 
own country, and it might have fared even so with 
your name in your native tongue." Olearius : " That 
was not the cause." Liebetraut : " Everything has 
two reasons." 

It appears from this that in Goethe's youth the 
Latinizing of proper names was getting to be laughed 
at, and made a subject for jest and merriment. 

Her father was the Councillor, Doctor Johann 
Wolfgang Textor, later on Chief Magistrate of 
Frankfort. From him Goethe got his two Christian 
names, and he gives a graphic picture of him in his 
Autobiography. He lived in an old house, with a 
large old-fashioned garden, where he passed much of 
the time which was not taken up by his duties as 
magistrate. He attended with his own hand to the 
culture of the finer fruits and flowers, and grafted the 



xxii Introduction. 

roses, for which he put on the ancient gloves which 
were yearly presented to him at the Piper's Court. 
Goethe says one day like another passed placidly 
along, and he never remembered to have seen his 
grandfather angry. The old gentleman was also 
gifted with prophecy : he saw in dreams what was 
to happen to himself. When he was junior council- 
lor he dreamed that he should soon be alderman ; 
and it was not long before an alderman died of apo- 
plexy, and Textor was promoted to the alderman's 
bench. He also foretold his elevation to the chief 
magistracy. When a Chief Magistrate died, the 
election of his successor was always made with as 
little delay as possible, for fear that the Emperor 
should assert his former right to appoint this officer. 
On the occasion when Textor was chosen, a messen- 
ger was sent round at midnight to give notice of an 
extraordinary session, and, as his lantern was going 
out, he asked for a candle's end. " Give him a 
whole one," said Textor ; " after all, he has all this 
trouble on my account. " The election was not de- 
cided by votes, but by drawing balls from a bag. 
Each candidate had his representative to draw for 
him, and their precedence was settled by lot. It so 
happened, on this occasion, that there were three 
candidates, and Textor's representative was by the 
lot made third and last ; but, as luck would have it, 
the first two drew each a silver ball, leaving the gold- 
en one at the bottom of the bag for Textor. 

Of the wife of this worthy old gentlemen we know 
nothing. Her grandson makes no mention of her in 
his Autobiography, except that she was the confi- 
dant of her husband's dreams. Yet, on looking at 



In tro dice Hon . x x i i i 

her portrait, one finds that in personal appearance 
her daughter, and especially her grandson, so much ' 
resembled her that one cannot help supposing that 
they must have inherited from her many traits of 
character. Certainly, neither of them had much of 
the old Councillor's lake-like placidity, and in his old 
age the resemblance of Goethe to his grandmother 
Textor is very striking. 

We can readily imagine that the daughter led an 
uneventful life in this antiquated dwelling, with its 
peaceful garden, where one day was like another. We 
know nothing of her until, in her eighteenth year, 
her hand is asked in marriage by the Imperial Coun- 
cillor, John Caspar Goethe, whose suit was favorably 
received by her parents. 

Rath Goethe, then in his thirty-ninth year, lived 
with his mother, the widow of Frederick George 
Goethe, in a large house in the Hirschgraben. Tne 
widow Goethe was wealthy, and had spared no pains 
on the education of her son, who had taken his de- 
gree of Doctor Juris, had travelled in Italy (a distinc- 
tion in those days), and passed for a man learned in 
the law, and for a connoisseur in the fine arts. 

The sentiments of Fraulein Textor, on leaving 
her father's house as the wife of Rath Goethe, on 
the 20th of August, 1748, were probably those of filial 
duty toward her parents, and of esteem toward the 
husband of their choice : nothing further was asked 
or expected of her. The first year of her married 
life she may be said to have been at school ; for her 
husband, having no outlet for the knowledge with 
which he had been crammed, and being of a very 
didactic turn of mind, seized upon her as a godsend, 



xx'w Introduction. 

and set her all manner of tasks. She was kept busy 
with languages, composition, and music, and she only 
escaped from school by becoming a mother. 

On the 28th of August, 1749, was born the son, 
Johann Wolfgang, who was to make her one of the 
happiest of mothers. 

" The bed in which your mother brought you into 
the world," writes Bettina to Goethe (the transla- 
tion, too, is hers), " had blue checkered hangings. 
She was then seventeen* years old, and one year 
married ; hereupon she remarked you would always 
remain young, and your heart would never become 
old, since you had the youth of your mother into 
the bargain. Three days did you consider about it 
before you entered the world, and caused your 
mother heavy hours. Through anger that necessity 
had driven you from your nature-home, and through 
the ill-treatment of the midwife, you appeared quite 
black, and without sign of life. They laid you in a 
butcher's tray, and bathed the pit of your heart with 
wine, quite despairing of your existence. Your grand- 
mother stood behind the bed. When you first opened 
your eyes, she exclaimed, ' Daughter, he lives ! ' 
1 Then awoke my maternal heart, and lived since then 
in continual enthusiasm to this very hour,'' said your 
mother to me in her seventy-seventh year." 

Several children, born later, died in infancy, with 
the exception of the daughter Cornelia. She and 
Wolfgang grew up together, and their mother with 
them ; for the difference in age between herself and 
her husband brought her nearer to the children, and 

* Eighteen. 



Introduction. xxv 

she was fond of saying, " My Wolfgang and I have 
always held together, and the reason is we were both 
young, and not so far from each other as Wolfgang and 
his father." She stood between the children and an 
affectionate yet stern and exacting father, and in 
this difficult position her true education may be said 
to have begun. She was the mediator and peace- 
maker, for which office she was especially fitted by 
her tact and " mother wit," her animal spirits, and 
her cheerful views. She possessed thoroughly, as 
her son said, and as may be seen everywhere in her 
letters, " the philosophy of a cheerful life." 

" Vom Vater hab' ich die Statur 
Des Lebens ernstes Ftihren ; 
Von Mutterchen die Frohnatur 
Die Lust zu fabuliren." 

Thus wrote Goethe of himself — that is, his stature 
and the earnest conduct of life he got from his father ; 
from dear little mother his joyous disposition and 
love of story-telling. His mother was an admirable 
story-teller. To this poetic gift of hers we shall find 
constant allusion in the following correspondence ; 
for instance, where Klinger tells of how he was 
" nailed to his chair" when listening to her ; and in 
many other places which we will not anticipate. 
While the father gave his attention to the serious 
training of his boy's intellect, the mother cultivated 
his imagination and poetic feeling by the creations 
of her fancy. " In general," says Vichoff,* " all the 
freshness, the wit and the humor we find in Goethe, 
all the depth of feeling and the poetry, were fore- 

* Vichoff : " Goethe's Leben." 



xx vi Introduction. 

shadowed in his mother's character ; while from his 
father he had received only a few traits of character 
of a coarser kind, if I may so speak — for example, 
his strong love of order, his administrative talent, 
and the gravity he displayed in his later years." 

Rath Goethe was, at first, very much disappointed 
at the course of life his son chose He had carefully 
educated him for the law, and when he returned 
from the University of Strasburg with a diploma as 
Doctor Juris, his father thought the fulfilment of all 
his hopes, was at hand. With a secretary for the 
manual part of the work, the father and son to put 
their heads together over the knotty points of the 
law, and with their intimate relations with the 
magistracy of Frankfort to put them in the way of 
business, Rath Goethe saw his way to great success. 

But what born poet was ever made into an 
attorney ? The result soon was that the two silent 
partners had to look after the legal business, while 
the young attorney was writing " Goetz von Berlich- 
ingen," falling in love at Wetzlar with Lotte Buff, 
and immortalizing it in the " Sorrows of Werther" ; 
in short, was becoming all at once not only a famous 
and popular writer, but an epoch-maker in the litera- 
ture of his country. Rath Goethe was very proud 
of his son's success, but it distressed him to see him 
putting literature before law. 

It was the Storm and Stress period with Goethe. 
He wandered with his susceptible heart from Lotte 
to Maximiliane Brentano ; from the pretty Max to 
Lili Schonemann. He speaks of it afterward, in a 
letter to his mother, as a time of confusion and per- 
plexity. 



Intr collection. xxvii 

To distract the young jurist still further, his newly- 
won fame brought visitors from every quarter to see 
the last literary lion ; at length, among them, came 
the Duke of Saxe-VVeimar, whose visit was followed 
by an invitation, which resulted in Goethe's going 
to Weimar to become to the Duke, councillor, 
minister, and bosom friend. 

His father in vain opposed his departure, seeking 
out all imaginable proverbs and pithy sayings against 
court-life, to which the son would reply by as many 
in its favor. There was a brisk warfare of witty 
epigrams, but each one remained firm in his own 
opinion. 

The disappointment of the father was not shared 
by the mother : there was no wavering in her faith. 
Ah ! of the many mothers who have believed their 
sons to have genius, how few have found that happy 
realization which fell to the lot of Frau Rath 
Goethe ! 

It is at this point that the following Correspond- 
ence begins, with the exception of the first two letters, 
to which we shall refer farther on. In the early let- 
ters the mother imparts to Goethe's various youthful 
friends the intelligence which she receives from 
Weimar ; then the interest of the Weimar circle in 
Goethe is extended to his mother. Wieland and 
the Duchess Amalia write to her, visit her, and vie 
with each other in their enthusiasm about her ; the 
odd little maid of honor, von Gochhausen, is de- 
lighted to be on the same planet with her, and so on. 
But we leave the letters to tell their own story. 

The first two letters in the chronological order are 
to Lavater, and are important only as showing the 



xxviii Introduction. 

deep impression made by Lavater on Goethe's moth- 
er — an impression which did not widely differ from 
that everywhere produced by this singular person- 
age. Tall, easy, graceful, pale, with moonshine in 
his face (as one of his admirers expressed it), a large 
nose, and brilliant eyes, his friend Hegner applies to 
him the description of Fenelon by the Due de St. 
Simon : 

" Le prelat etait un grand homme maigre, bien 
fait, pale, avec un grand nez, des yeux dont le feu et 
l'esprit sortaient comme un torrent, et une physio- 
nomie telle que je n'en ai point vue qui y ressemblat, 
et qui nese pouvait oublier, quand on ne l'aurait vue 
qu'une fois. Elle avait de la gravite et de la galan- 
terie, du serieux et de la gaite." 

In the history of his time Lavater has two parts to 
play : the one as the author of the " Fragments of 
Physiognomy/' the other as a pastor and earnest 
propagator of extreme evangelical doctrines, running 
into mysticism. The interest excited by his " Frag- 
ments of Physiognomy," joined to the winning per- 
sonality of its author, brought him into relations with 
all the thinkers of his day. But as the " Fragments 
of Physiognomy" remained always fragments, and 
even the author himself became at last aware 
that he was incapable of fulfilling his oft-repeated 
promise of evolving from them a systematic phil- 
osophy, the interest in Lavater died out, except 
among those who sympathized with his religious 
opinions. 

The second letter was written while Goethe had 
gone with the Counts Stolberg to Switzerland, and 
in it Goethe's mother gives herself the title of Frau 



Introduction. xxix 

Aja, which she so heartily accepted, and by which 
she was known in her circle of friends. 

In regard to her titles, that of Fran Rath is the 
only one by which she is universally known in 
Germany. Frau Rath or Frau R'athin, for the usage 
varies, is the title of a councillor's wife ; in literal 
English it would be Mrs. Councillor. Now there is 
no lack of councillors' wives in Germany, but Frau 
Rath Goethe has impressed her bright image so 
strongly upon the history of German literature that 
in speaking of her no surname is required : she is the 
Frau Rath par excellence in the heart of every culti- 
vated German. 

The two Counts Stolberg belonged to the phenom- 
ena of the period — young men of rank and fortune 
bursting with hatred for tyrants, and boiling over 
with enthusiasm for freedom. But the tyranny they 
hated was only the tyranny of custom and conven- 
tion, and the freedom they thirsted for was the free- 
dom to follow what they called the dictates of 
Nature. If Nature suggested that it was desirable to 
bathe by the wayside, in broad daylight, they eager- 
ly followed her dictates, and they inveighed all the 
more loudly against tyrants when certain rude min- 
ions of conventionalism assailed them with stones 
and drove them ignominiously away. 

Some years after this the Stolbergs went over to 
the Romish Church — a simple instance ; it would 
seem, of the well-known law, that the farther the 
pendulum is swung in one direction the farther it will 
swing in the other ; yet this circumstance created in 
Germany an excitement which at the present dis- 
tance in time seems a veritable tempest in a teapot. 



XXX 



Introduction. 



Of the Stolbergs' visit Goethe says: "We had 
dined together but a few times before, enjoying one 
bottle after another, the poetical hatred of tyrants 
made its appearance, and there was manifested a 
thirst for the blood of such villains. My father smil- 
ingly shook his head ; my mother had scarcely in her 
life heard of tyrants ; however, she called to mind 
having seen such monsters represented among the 
copperplates in Gottfried's Chronicles — for example, 
King Cambyses triumphing in the father's' presence 
at having hit the son's heart with his arrow : this 
had still remained in her memory. To turn these 
and similar expressions, which were becoming con- 
tinually more violent, back to something more cheer- 
ful, she betook herself to the cellar, where were 
deposited large well-cared-for tuns of the oldest 
wines. There were to be found there the vintages of 
1706-19-28-48, which she had herself watched and 
tended, and which were but seldom broached except 
on solemn and important occasions. As she now set 
out the high-colored wine in a cut-glass decanter, she 
exclaimed, ' Here is the true tyrants' blood ! Re- 
joice yourselves in it ; but banish all murderous 
thoughts from my house.' 

This scene is so similar to one in the " Legend of 
the Four Children of Aymon," that it gives the clew 
to the Frau Rath's title, Frau Aja. The original 
Frau Aja was, according to the legend, the sister of 
the Emperor Charlemagne, a personage whose deep 
impress upon his times is shown by the part he plays 
in so many legends. Frau Aja was the wife of Count 
Aymon, and the mother of four sons. One of the 
sons kills in a quarrel the son of the Emperor, and 



Introduction. . xxxi 

flies with his three brothers to the forest of Ar- 
dennes. The Emperor pursues them in vain, but takes 
Aymon prisoner, and compels him to an oath to de- 
liver up his sons, should they fall into his hands. 
After many adventures and many years' absence, the 
four brothers are seized with a desire to revist their 
home, but are afraid to present themselves, on ac- 
count of their father's oath. They therefore compel 
some pilgrims they meet to change clothes with them, 
and, appearing before the castle gate as pilgrims re- 
turning from Rome, beg for shelter and food. Frau 
Aja says, " Be content and of good cheer and I will 
give it you," and seated them at a table and gave 
them to eat and to drink. So they ate and drank 
and made merry ; at last Frau Aja went into the 
cellar, and, bringing up some of the best wine, poured 
out a silver cup full and gave it to Remold. In the 
end the mother recognizes them, and so on ; but with 
the rest of the legend we have nothing to do : it is 
only the similarity of this scene with the action of 
the Frau Rath in bringing the wine from the cellar 
which here concerns us. No doubt it recalled so 
vividly the scene in the legend, very well known in 
Germany, that the joyous group hailed her at once as 
Frau Aja.* 

* Compare Diintzer : " Frauenbilder," page 456, and following. 



INDEX TO LETTERS. 



From the Frau Rath to 

Duchess Anna Amalia of Saxe-Weimar — Nos. 25, 42, 45, 46, 53. 
Rath Crespel — Nos. 7, 8. 

Goethe — Nos. 69, 104, 10S, log, no, in, 112, 113, 114, 115, 
117, 118, 123, 124, 125, 126, 128, 131, 132. 

Goethe's Son, Augustus — No. 129. 

Fraulein von GSchhausen — No. 15. 

To her Grandchildren — Nos. 66, 88, 99. 

Lavater — Nos. 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, 17, 24, 38, 43, 68. 

Merck — No. 44. 

Salzmann — No. 5. 

Louisa Schlosser, afterward Nicolovius — Nos. 90, 96, 97, 102, 
103, 105, 106, 107. 

Schonborn — No. 4. 

Frau von Stein — Nos. 63, 71. 

Friedrich von Stein — Nos. 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 62, 
64, 65, 67, 70, 72, 73, 87, 91, 92, 94, 95. 

Unzelmann — Nos. 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 
86, 89, 93, 100. 

Christiane Vulpius, afterward Goethe's wife — Nos. 116, 122, 
127, 130. 

Wieland — No. 21. 



xxxiv Index to Letters. 

To the Frau Rath from 

Duchess Anna Amalia of Saxe-Weimar — Nos. 20, 27, 35, 36, 

39, 4i, 49- 
August, Prince of Saxe-Gotha— No. 101. 
Duke Carl August of Saxe-Weimar — Nos. 32, 34. 
Duke George of Mecklenburg-Strelitz — No. 121. 
Goethe — Nos. 30, 31, 37, 61, 98, 120, and p. 141. 
Fraulein von Gochhausen — Nos. 19, 26, 28, 40. 
Klinger — No. 119. 
Friedrich von Stein — No. 60. 
Wieland— Nos. 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 22, 33, and p. 84. 

Miscellaneous. 

Duchess Anna Amalia of Saxe-Weimar to J. H. Merck — No. 29 
and p. 69. 

Goethe to Friedrich von Stein — Nos. 58, 59. 

Goethe's Father to Schonborn — No. 4. 

Klinger to Kayser — No. 3. 

Merck to Wieland — No. 21. 

Merck to his Wife — p. 75. 

Wieland to Gleim — p. 68. 

Wieland to Merck — No. 23 and pp. 85, 100. 



GOETHE'S MOTHER. 



LETTERS FROM THE FRAU RATH. 



I. Frau Rath to John Caspar Lavatcr. 

Tuesday, the 2d Aug., 1774. 
A thousand thanks, once more, dear, good son, for 
your stay with us. I could not take leave ; my heart 
was too full. Never, never shall I lose your image 
from my heart. Farewell. God Almighty bless you, 
accompany you in all your ways, and bring you 
sound and well to your destination. Oh, do not for- 
get us, dear, dear Lavater. I must leave off, and 
must weep * — my house is so lonely to me, as quiet 
as the grave. Once more, farewell. 

Catharina Elisabetha Goethe. 

2. Frau Rath to Lavatcr. 

Frankfort, the 28 June (1775). 

Here is the promised music ; may it give you 
much pleasure. You will have received my letter of 
the 26th, f and I await eagerly a reply. 

Greet the Counts and the dear Baron, \ and say 
I have trusted my Wolfgang to them, and thank 
them for all the love they have shown toward him ; 

* The reader will call to mind that facility for shedding tears, 
which was a characteristic of the eighteenth century, 
f Missing. 
% Counts Stolberg and Baron Haugwitz. 



24 Goethe s Mother. 

yet I now beg them to send him back to us, for time 
hangs very heavily on Frau Aja. Many greetings 
from us to all friends. Vale. 



3. Portion of a Letter from Klinger to Kayscr* 

GlESSEN, 2d Whitsuntide Holiday (27 May, 1776). 
Yesterday I had a letter from Goethe's 
dear mother, from whom I often learn something 
about Goethe ; and I cannot forbear telling thee in a 
few lines what the good woman writes. Here are her 
own words ! I believe it w r ill impress thee anew, as 
many hundred times as thou mayest have heard it. 

' The Doctor is delighted and well in his Weimar ; 
has moved to a charming garden, belonging to the 
Duke, just outside the town. Lenz has written a 
poetic description of it, and sent it to me to read. 
The poet (Lenz) also sticks there as if he were nailed 
to the spot. Weimar must be a difficult place to get 
away from : everybody stays there. Well, if it 
pleases the little flock, may God bless it to them. 
Now, dear friend, farewell, as well as it admits of in 
Giessen. I always think to you poets it would be 
a trifle to idealize even the worst places. If you 
can make something out of nothing, the evil one 
must be in it,f if a fairy town were not to be made 

* Philip Christopher Kayser, son of an organist at Frankfort, 
established himself as a musician at Zurich. He wrote an over- 
ture to Egmont, and the music to some of Goethe's operatic trifles. 

f." So miisst es doch mit dem Sei-bei-uns zugehen." Sei-bei- 
uns or Gott sei-bei-uns (God be with us), from being used as a 
phrase to arrest the evil one, came, by circumlocution, to mean the 
evil one himself. 



Letter from K linger to Kayser. 25 

out of Giessen. In such things, I, at least, have great 
power. A thousand pities that I do not write 
dramas — the world would see amazing wonders ; but 
they would have to be in prose. I am no great lover 
of verse-making, which, truly, has its reasons. The 
political pewterer had the very same hatred of the 
Latin language.* 

" Greet Schleirm(acher)f from us, and tell him he 
must not let you come here to the next fair alone, 
and then, as a matter of course, we see you and him, 
pass many an hour in chat, relate all sorts of pretty 
stories, and so on." 

I leave out much more, which concerns my author- 
ship, etc. I thought it would give thee pleasure, 
and thou wills't keep it secret. Thou dost not 
imagine what a woman she is, and what I possess 
in her. How many hours of intimacy have I passed 
with her, nailed to my chair, listening to stories — I 
cannot write thee about it. K. 



Klinger and Lenz, two friends of Goethe's youth, 
followed him to Weimar, as meteors are drawn by 
the planet within whose influence they come. Lenz, 
who, when he was not actually treated as insane, was 
always hovering on the borders of insanity, " played 
regularly every day some foolish trick" (as Wieland 
said), " and then wondered over it as a goose that 



* i.e. Because he was ignorant of it. The allusion is to " Der 
politische Kannengiesser," a very popular farce of the day, by Hol- 
berg, a Danish author, translated into German by Oehlenschlager. 

f A college friend of Klinger. 



26 Goethe s Mother. 

has laid an egg/' In the end, he gave such serious 
offence as to make his further stay impossible. 

Klinger's stay was short. A certain proud self- 
assertion and unbending angularity, which had been 
heightened by his constant struggle with poverty, 
unfitted him for the Weimar circle. He undertook 
the direction of a theatre at Leipzig, then served as 
a lieutenant in the Austrian service, during the war 
of the Bavarian succession — a war of short duration 
— after which his friends applied to Dr. Franklin in 
the hope of getting him a commission in the Ameri- 
can army in the War of Independence. This appli- 
cation was unsuccessful, and Klinger eventually 
went to Russia, where his sterling qualities found at 
length an appropriate sphere of action. He was ap- 
pointed reader to the Grand Duke Paul, and as 
everything was on a military basis, received the rank 
of lieutenant in the marine battalion. He accom- 
panied this prince on a journey of fourteen months 
to Switzerland, Italy, and France. During this jour- 
ney they visited the Duke of Wiirtemberg, and the 
illuminations in honor of the Grand Duke served 
at the same time to light young Doctor Schiller in 
his flight from a country where he was forbidden to 
use his pen except in writing prescriptions. 

There are many romantic incidents in Klinger's life. 
He was the son of a wood-sawyer, and his mother 
was a laundress, combining with this a little shop for 
wood and coals. One day, when he was assisting his 
father in the delivery of a load of wood, his beauty of 
person and his bright glances attracted the attention 
of the director of the grammar-school. Struck with 
the intelligent replies to his questions, the director 



Letter from K linger to Kayser. 2 7 

procured his admission to the grammar-school, and 
provided for his education. 

When Klinger revisited Frankfort with the Grand 
Duke Paul, he dressed himself in the full uniform 
of his military rank, and presented himself in his 
mother's humble shop. But he could not persuade 
his mother, now a widow, to share his fortunes ; she 
would only consent to accept a modest pension, with 
the condition that she might continue her small 
commerce in fuel. 

On his return to Russia, Klinger married a lady of 
rank, and was made Curator of the University of 
Dorpat, with the rank of lieutenant-general. He 
died at St. Petersburg in 1831, in his seventy- 
seventh year. 

Falk * gives the following anecdote of Klinger as 
related to him by a friend : 

" One morning Klinger went to Goethe, took a 
large parcel of manuscript out of his pocket, and be- 
gan to read aloud. Goethe bore it for a time ; but 
at length, exclaiming, ' What cursed stuff is this 
thou hast again been writing ? The devil may bear 
it if he can ! ' he sprang from his seat and ran away. 
This, however, did not in the least disconcert Kling- 
er, nor disturb his equanimity. He rose quietly, put 
his manuscript in his pocket, and merely said, 
' Curious : this is the second person with whom this 
has happened to me to-day.' Wieland declared that 
if it had been his case, he should have found it diffi- 
cult to preserve such composure. Goethe tranquilly 



* " Goethe Portrayed from Familiar Personal Intercourse." 
Translated by Sarah Austin in her " Characteristics of Goethe." 



28 Goethe s Mother. 

replied, ' So should I ; but you can see from it that 
Klinger was born out and out for a general, because 
he has such confounded assurance. I predicted it 
to you in those very days.' 

Klinger first attracted attention by his play The 
Tzvins {Die Zwillinge). A prize had been offered for 
an original drama, and Klinger won it with this fiery 
production. This play, with the Sturm und Drang 
{Storm and Stress) — which gave a name to the lit- 
erary epoch — roused all passions, and both rank 
among the forerunners of the romantic school. 
Klinger was all his life a voluminous writer, but he 
abandoned the drama for essays and novels. At the 
close of life he expressed his obligations to Goethe 
and George Schlosser for the advice he often received 
from them. 

A high moral tone ; a spirit busied with high 
and noble thoughts ; a vigorous, manly intellect and 
character ; simple habits ; enjoyment in a moderate 
way of living ; perfect ignorance of the passion for 
happiness-hunting — who had ever thought of re- 
quiring these qualities in a poet ? In his " Observa- 
tions and Thoughts on Various Subjects Connected 
with the World and Literature,"'* he explains how 
such a theory arose in his mind ; how, first, the actual 
world presented itself to his mind's eye only through 
a poetic veil — this is the Storm and Stress period — 
then how the poetic world was shaken to its founda- 
tions by the actual one ; and how, at last, it gained 
the victory, because the self-sustained moral sense 



* " Betrachtungen und Gedanken iiber verschiedene Gegen- 
stande der Welt und Literatur." 



Goethe s Parents to Schonborn, 29 

diffused light through the darkness which threatened 
to enshroud the poet's mind. 

These views he also expressed in a series of 
novels, of which the " Man of the World and the 
Poet" is considered the best.* 

There is a tradition that Klinger was born in a 
part of Goethe's father's house. Dr. Otto Volger, 
who has in late years investigated, with German 
assiduity, the history of that house, denies that 
there are any associations with Klinger. Goethe, 
however, accepted the tradition, and embalmed it in 
verse. A few years before his death he sent Kling- 
er a sketch of the house, accompanied by a short 
poem. He reminds Klinger that he had taken the 
wanderer's staff and gone into a far country and 
attained a lofty position. " From this goal, will it 
not please you to look back to your first step ? from 
the same threshold we set forth on very different 
paths. 

Eine Schwelle hiess in's Leben, 
Uns verschiedne Wege gehn ; 
War es doch zu edlem Streben 
Drum auf frohes Wiedersehn." 

4. Goethe *s Parents to Schonborn, Secretary to the 
Danish Consulate at Algiers, 

Frankfort-on-Main, 24th July, 1776. 

Your friendly letter to our son, dated Algiers, the 

28th October, 1775, containing in particular a succinct 

account of the Spanish coup manque, duly reached 

here about six weeks after, and it is not his fault 

* Mrs. Austin, "Characteristics of Goethe." 



30 Goethe s Mother. 

that it has, until now, remained unanswered. He 
had already left us, and we had to send it after him 
to Weimar, where he still is. I must tell you how all 
this came to pass, as everything, estimable friend, 
which concerns this singular being * must be of in- 
terest to you. I begin at the origin of his present 
relations. The Duke of Weimar became acquainted 
with him two years ago, and was so favorably im- 
pressed that, when the Duke returned to Frankfort 
from Durlach, where he had married the Princess 
Louise of Darmstadt, our son was formally invited 
to Weimar by this young ducal pair, whither he 
soon after followed them. He remained there last 
winter, as guest, and entertained the Court by read- 
ing to them his unprinted works, introduced skating 
and other agreeable pursuits, by which he made 
them his friends, as well as many exalted and distin- 
guished persons in the neighborhood. But the bet- 
ter acquainted the Duke became with the Doctor, the 
less could he spare him. He tested his capabilities, 
which he found of such a nature that he at length 
appointed him Geheim Legations Rath (Privy Coun- 
cillor) with a seat and vote in the Privy Council, and 
a salary of 1200 thalers. There, now, sits the poet, 
and accommodates himself the best way he can to 
his position. There let him sit ; and we, on account 
of his official occupations, will replace and repre- 
sent him in this correspondence. You shall learn 
further details about him, and also receive his minor 
writings, old friend ; of which with the inclosed we 
make a beginning. One thing more : as the Duke of 

* " Diesen singularen Menschen." 



Goethe's Parents to Schduborn. 31 

Weimar not only values intelligent men, but also 
rewards them according to their merit, his capital 
must soon be a meeting-place for many men of tal- 
ent ; for instance, one of the Counts Stolberg has 
been made Chamberlain, and will soon repair 
thither.* Herder appears as General Superintend- 
ent^ and Lenz has already been there several 
months. But what will most astonish you is that 
the Doctor is reconciled with Wieland, and lives with 
him on the friendliest footing ; and this comes from 
his heart. As to what concerns Hofr. (Court 
Councillor) Schlosser % in Emmendingen, he is over 
head and ears in publications, some portions of 
which do not please in the least the dogmatic theo- 
logians ; so that those black men with white collars 
found the second part of his village catechism not in 
accordance with their dogmatic w T ay of thinking, and 
therefore stirred up the secular arm to confiscate it. 
He has recently brought out his " Anti-Pope. " § 
. . . Hactenus Goethe Pater. 

Dear good friend ! you must also have a little word 
from me ; you must learn, too, that I am still living, 
think oft, oft of you ; always would be glad to know 
what our friend Schonborn is about in Algiers, etc. 
You doubtless remember that nearly three years have 
flown by since we were so happy, eating grapes to- 
gether. It seems to me you have been long enough 
in Barbary, have seen enough veiled people ; and 

* Stolberg was dissuaded from going by Klopstock. See the 
singular correspondence in Lewes' "Life of Goethe." 
f A high dignitary in the Lutheran Church. 
% The husband of his daughter Cornelia. 
§ Anti-Pope. A reply to the Essay on Man. 



2,2 Goethe s Mother. 

therefore my advice, which my friendly heart gives 
you, is this, that you soon come back to us. It was 
always my delight to have distinguished men with 
and about me ;* but in my present situation (since 
both my children are far, far distant from me) it is a 
heavenly pleasure. Take my advice and come, the 
sooner the better ; it will be good for you. What 
shall we not have to relate to each other : we need 
not fear dulness. I possess a store of anecdotes, 
stories, etc., so that I will be bound to talk eight 
days continuously, and when you, too, begin — about 
lakes and seas, cities and villages, men and mon- 
sters, elephants and snakes — that will be a gaudium. 
Farewell, wishes you, your very particular friend, 

C. E. Goethe. 



The difficulty with Wieland alluded to, if there 
ever was any, is certainly here much exaggerated. 
Goethe had written, one Sunday afternoon, over a 
bottle of Burgundy, a farce to which he gave the 
title Goiter, Helden und Wieland (Gods, Heroes and 
Wieland}. The farce was directed against what he 
considered Wieland 's unworthy vulgarization of the 
Grecian gods and heroes. Wieland wrote the follow- 
ing good-natured notice of it for his monthly paper, 
the Deutsche Mercur. 

" Dr. Goethe, the author of this little work, after 
having shown us in his Goetz von Berlichingen 

* " Es war fur mich jederzeit eine Wollust grosse Menschen 
um und bey mir zu haben." 

(" Es ist eine Wollust einen grossen Mann zu sehen." Brother 
Martin in Goetz von Berlichingen.) 



Frau Rath to Salzmann. 33 

that he might be Shakespeare if he wished, has 
proved to us in this heroic-farcical pasquinade that 
if he wished, he might also be Aristophanes. For 
just as it has pleased him in this critical Worexekek 
Koax Koax to make sport of Wieland and Wie- 
land's Alceste, so did Aristophanes with this self- 
same Euripides, whom Herr Goethe here makes walk 
over the head of the author of the opera Alceste. 
We recommend this little book to all admirers of the 
pasquinade style as a masterpiece of persiflage and 
sophistical wit, which, out of all possible points of 
view, carefully chooses that one from which the ob- 
ject must appear crooked, and then makes itself right 
heartily merry because the thing is so crooked.'' 

Goethe, after reading the above, wrote to Frau von 
La Roche, " He treats the matter like a good fellow, 
who feels that he sits firm in the saddle. I have 
never had anything against him, and now I forgive 
him for his blasphemy against my gods." 

5. Frau Rath to Salzmann* 

We heard yesterday a great deal that is pleasant 
and good from our son. I am convinced that you 
will rejoice in our joys ; you, so old a friend and 
acquaintance of the Doctor, must take a deep in- 
terest in his good fortune, and can, as a friend of 
man, feel, when the Psalmist says, " Wohl dem der 
Freude an seinen Kindern erlebt !" (Blessed is he 
who lives to have joy in his children), f how grateful 

* A Strassburg friend of Goethe's. 

f The sentence " Wohl dem der Freude an seinen Kindern er- 
lebt," is inscribed on the Sophienducaten, gold ducats struck in 



34 Goethe s Mother. 

all this must be to his parents. God guide him 
further, and cause him to accomplish much good in 
the land of Weimar ! I am sure, you will say, with 
us, Amen. 



6. Christopher Martin Wietcmd to Frau Rath. 

Dear Mother Aja : It gave me great pleasure 
to get once more a note from your dear hand. 
Brother Merlin,'* the conjurer, or his faithful shield- 
bearer and confidential secretary f will in the mean- 
time have informed you how he is. They have all 
returned safely, and improved, as I think, in soul 
and body, from Dessau, where a prince and princess 
are to be seen from whom no one who has been 
with them willingly parts. 

It is the greatest kindness of you, dearest mother, 
and of aunt % that you should interest yourselves so 
much for that milk-soppy fellow, Gandalin. But 
since for once this is the case, I should be glad to 
hear how the end of the song in the last book pleased 
you, and if you are now content (since from the way 
in which you made known to me your apprehension, 

1616, by the order of the Electress Sophia of Saxony, on the birth 
of her grandson. These coins are much sought after as presents at 
christenings, on account of the appropriateness of the motto. The 
Frau Rath falls into a common error in attributing it to the Psalm- 
ist. The nearest passage corresponding to it is in the Apocrypha, 
Ecclesiasticus 3: 6. "Wer seinen Vater ehrt, der wird auch 
Freude an seinen Kindern haben ;" in the English version, " He 
that honoreth his father shall have joy in his own children." 

* Goethe. 

\ Philip Seidel, a servant Goethe took with him from his 
father's house, and who remained with him all his life. 

% Johanna Fahlmer. See note at the end of this letter. 



C. M. Wieland to Frau Rath. 35 

that the young fellow might, in the VHIth book, 
become unfaithful, one might almost conclude that 
the denouement was by you quite unforeseen) this 
would, justly give me great pleasure. 

The new year 1777 we shall begin a little song in 
entirely another strain from all we have ever sung to 
you or played on the lyre. My heart predicts to 
me, dear Frau Aja, that this will please you more 
than Herr Gandalin,who, indeed, seen by daylight, is 
nothing more than a Carnival Knight. 

I was glad to hear that Lenz had paid you a visit, 
and had said of us much that was agreeable and 
good, which, indeed, he might do with a good con- 
science. This whimsical dreamer vanished from here 
in the same way in which he appeared. I did not 
even know where he went or whence he came. 

Liebes Miitterchen, if it does not give you too much 
trouble, write me in the closest confidence how my 
cousin Max La Roche is, and how it fares with her. 
Item, what clever people among you say to " All- 
will's Papers ?" * The author you doubtless know. 
Brother Wolf f and I find no further fault with it, 
than that Brother Fritz has not had grace from 
God to make a composition out of the excellent mate- 
rial which he had before him. If one hints to the 
queer fellow anything of this kind, he does not under- 
stand in the least what is said to him ; he is, namely, 
of the opinion that the thing really is a composition — 
that is just the comical part of the matter. Meantime, 
as it is, it seems to me always like a whole tableful 
of boxes and jars mixed up together, in all of which 

* By Fritz Jacobi. f Goethe. Wolf, for Wolfgang. 



36 Goethe s Mother. 

there is something one is glad to have, and can make 
use of — ribbons, laces, comfits, bonbons, rhubarb, 
cure-all pills, pomeg^anate-rinds, soap-balls, cobblers' 
wax, and God knows what all. I see well that the 
simile does not fit, for it is true there are excellent 
things in " Allwill's Papers," and his style of writ- 
ing, his form of expression (setting aside the inequal- 
ities) is for the most part so vivid and brilliant, often 
so forcible and ardent and full of soul, that there is 
nothing superior to it. 

Now this is, once more, what is called old man's 
gossip ! Ade,* dear, best mother. I shall soon be 
no longer able to hold out until the time when I 
shall see you face to face. Only I dread, in antici- 
pation, the parting. Ah ! why cannot we all be 
together ? yet the time will come. Meanwhile keep 
for me, ever, a good, warm little place in your 
motherly heart. May you be well, hearty, and 
happy together in the year 1777. 

On the last day of 1776. 

Your faithful son, 

WlELAND. 



One of the first of the Weimar circle to take pen 
in hand to greet the mother of his friend was Wie- 
land, then near the zenith of his fame, but destined 
to be relegated to the second rank in comparison 
with Goethe. Wieland is a rare instance of a poet 
who could contentedly submit to be outrivalled. 
" Goethe et le jeune due," writes Bossert, " tom- 

* Adieu. 



C. M. Wieland to Frait Rath. $7 

berent d'abord comme deux trouble-fete dans le 
groupe elegant et doux, au milieu duquel tronait le 
vieux Wieland." * Yet in March, 1776, we find Wie- 
land writing to Merck : ' ' For me there is no life more 
without this wonderful boy, whom I love as my sole 
and only-begotten son, and, as befits an actual 
father, have a heartfelt joy that he is growing so 
finely over my head, and is all that which I have not 
been able to be." 

Wieland seems early to have extended his admira- 
tion for the son to the mother ; as we find, in this 
the earliest letter which has been published, allu- 
sions to previous ones, and the Frau Rath already 
greeted as his " dear mother Aja. " 

The aunt (Tante), who is frequently alluded to by 
this title in the correspondence, is Johanna Fahlmer, 
a relative by marriage of the brothers Jacobi of 
Diisseldorf. 

;< Mademoiselle Fahlmer" (Goethe writes), " who 
had come to Frankfort from Diisseldorf, and who 
was intimate with their (Jacobis') circle, by the 
great tenderness of her sympathies and the uncom- 
mon cultivation of her mind, furnished an evidence 
of the worth of the society in which she had grown 
up. She gradually put us to shame by her patience 
with our harsh upper-German manners, and taught 
us forbearance by letting us feel that we ourselves 
stood in need of it." (Autobiography.) 

At a time when French was almost exclusively the 
language of the upper classes in Germany, Wieland had 
the great merit of showing that the despised mother- 

* " Cours de literature Allemande, Goethe et Schiller." 



$8 Goethe s Mother. 

tongue was susceptible of ease, grace, and beauty. 
He had thus become the fashionable poet of the day ; 
but the task was a rude one, and in his letters he 
evidently unbends with delight from the toil of the 
polisher. In an easy-going, slipshod manner he 
rattles on in the first words that occur to him, con- 
fusing idioms and mingling languages until one 
seeks in vain to discover whether it is his French 
that is most Teutonic, or his German most Gallic. 

7. Fran Rath to Crespel. 

Frankfort, 5th January, 1777. 
Dear Son : . . . I hope you will not take ill 
the trouble the affair gives you ; you shall in return 
for it sit at the round table, and upon your head a 
whole horn of good things shall be poured out. 
Yesterday would have been a great pleasure to you. 
A thousand pities that you are sitting in Ratisbon. 
8 young maidens were with me : two Demoiselles 
Clermondt, the Mingen Stark, etc. We played " Stirbt 
der Fuchs, so gilt sein Balg,"and that brought for- 
feits and made much merriment. Then .there were 
stories told, and riddles given ; in one word, there 
was great fun. I delivered correctly your greetings 
to Max,* Aunt, and the Gerocks. They, each and 
all, love and value you, and wished that you were 
back again. To a certain Peter, f only, your ab- 
sence is a great comfort. He is altogether an odd 
stick ; % before Max gets into the new house, he 

* Max is Maximiliane La Roche, married to Peter Anton Bren- 
tano ; among their children was Bettina. 

f Peter Brentano. \ Ein wunderlicher Heiliger ! 



Frau Rath to Crespel. 39 

will probably lead her many a dance. There is noth- 
ing- new here in God's world, except that a great 
snow has fallen, and many people are sleighing. 
Farewell, dear friend. Keep us in good remem- 
brance, and be assured that we all, and I especially 
am and will be your true friend and faithful mother, 

C. E. Goethe. 



Rath Bernhard Crespel was the son of a jeweller 
in Frankfort who had many business relations with 
princes. The Prince of Thurn and Taxis, out of 
compliment to the father, bestowed upon the babe 
in his cradle the title of " Rath," almost as if in 
mockery of this much-loved title. Crespel is not 
mentioned by name in Goethe's Autobiography, but 
is well known as that one of the group of youthful 
friends who devised the sort of marriage lottery de- 
scribed in the sixth book, and again in the six- 
teenth. Crespel's ready tongue, his conventual 
education, and his premature baldness gave color to 
Goethe likening him to a Capuchin friar. He be- 
came a complete oddity, made his own shoes and 
clothes, built a queer house near Frankfort, and had 
the ill-luck to be the subject of one of Hoffmann's 
witty sketches. 

But at the moment of which we are speaking 
Crespel was in Ratisbon, and the Frau Rath was 
writing to him to give him the news of the youthful 
circle, and to comfort him amid the rebuffs which 
his oddities had probably drawn upon him. 

The Frau Rath gathered about her every Satur- 
day a group of young girls, and entered heartily 



4-0 Goethe s Mother. 

into all their diversions. The game of Stirbt der 
Fuchs so gilt sein Balg" (When the fox dies, his skin 
counts) is the one known as " Jack's Alight." The 
players stand in a circle and pass a lighted stick 
around, and the one in whose hand it goes out has 
to redeem the fox's skin by paying a forfeit. There 
are some charming verses of Goethe's under this 
title, and in reply to an inquiry from Zelter, Goethe 
gives the following as the couplets which each one 
was obliged to repeat while holding the lighted stick 
in his hand : 

Stirbt dcr Fuchs so gilt der Balg, 
Lebt er lang, so wird er alt, 

Lebt er, so lebt er, 

Stirbt er, so stirbt er, 
Man begrabt ihn nicht mit der Haut, 
Das gereicht ihm zur Ehre. 

When the Fox dies, his skin counts, 
If he lives long he will be old ; 

If he lives, he lives, 

If he dies, he dies ; 
He will not be buried in his skin, 
And this is an honor to him. 

We add Goethe's song, with Browning's trans 
laiion : 

Nach Mittage sassen wir 

Junges Volk im Klihlen ; 
Amor kam, und stirbt der Fuchs 

Wollt er mit uns spielen. 

Jeder meiner Freunde sass 

Froh bei seinem Herzchen ; 
Amor blies die Fackel aus, 

Sprach : hier ist das Kerzchen ! 



Frau Rath to CrespeL 41 



Und die Fackel, wie sie glomm, 

Lies man eilig wandern 
Jeder driickte sie geschvvind 

In die Hand des andern. 

Und mir reichte Dorilis 
Sie mit Spott und Scherzs : 

Kaum beriihrt mein Finger sie, 
Hell entflammt die Kerze. 

Sengt mir Augen und Gesicht, 
Sezt die Brust in Flammen, 

tieber meinem Haupte schlug 
Fast die Gluth zusammen. 

Loschen wollt' ich, patschte zu ; 

Doch es brennt bestandig ; 
Statt zu sterben ward der Fuchs 

Recht bei mir lebendig. 

When the Fox dies, his skin counts 
We young people in the shade 

Sat one sultry day ; 
Cupid came, and "Dies the Fox" 

With us sought to play. 

Each one of my friends then sat 

By his mistress dear ; 
Cupid, blowing out the torch, 

Said, "The taper's here" ! 

Then we quickly sent around 

The expiring brand ; 
Each one put it hastily 

In his neighbor's hand. 

Dorilis then gave it me, 

With a scoffing jest ; 
Sudden into flame it broke, 

By my fingers press'd. 

And it singed my eyes and face, 

Set my breast on fire ; 
Then above my head the blaze 

Mounted ever hither. 



42 Goethe s Mother. 

Vain I sought to put it out ; 

Ever burned the flame ; 
'Stead of dying, soon the Fox 

Livelier still became. 

Mrs. Austin, in her " Characteristics of Goethe," 
gives a portion of a letter, evidently from one 
of the members of this Saturday circle. The 
writer says : " To the characteristics of Goethe's 
extraordinary mother, I should add that she had a 
singular art of stimulating young and active minds, 
and that out of the treasures of her own experience 
she instructed them in the science of life. How did 
we hang on her lips, when in her joyous yet earnest 
manner she related to us, then girls of twelve or 
fourteen, a story of Musaeus or Wieland, or recited 
a poem by her son !" 

'■' She was worthy of life" (Sie war des Lebens 
werth), said her great son to me in the year 1814, 
when he revisited his paternal city. How intense 
was her attachment to her friends ; how efficient a 
mediator and helper ; how faithful and discreet a 
confidant was she ! She used to say, " Don't lose 
your presence of mind because the wind blows 
roughly;" and think of Wieland's words, " Die Hand 
die uns durch dieses Dunkel fiihrt" (The hand that 
leads us through this darkness). 

8. Frau Rath to Crcspel. 

Frankfort, the 1st Febr., 1777. 
Dear Son : In one respect your letter gave me 
great joy and delight ; for everything which comes 
from you, my dear friend, gives me pleasure. But, 



Frau Rath to Crespel. 43 

for God's sake, tell me what melancholy tone is this 
which gives your letter the air of the prophet Jere- 
miah in Lamentations. Toward Ratisbon I shall now 
my life long have an irreconcilable hatred : it must 
be an unmannerly place where they can grieve our 
dear, good Crespel, and mistake his excellent char- 
acter. A bar of gold of forty pounds without any 
stamp is, after all, more valuable than a quarter 
ducat piece, be the latter ever so finely stamped and 
deemed current by Jews and Christians. Merit re- 
mains merit, and will be felt and prized by all upright 
people ; about the praise or blame of the rest, the 
silken varlets,* an honest fellow need not trouble 
himself. Think of all your brother the Doctor has 
had to fight through — what idle talk, gossip, lies, 
etc. — just because people couldn't conceive how any- 
body, without being of the nobility, could have any 
sense, f But possess your soul in patience, try to 
set your affairs in order, and then fly to to us ! You 
shall be received with all friendly warmth : rely 
upon that ! We know your intrinsic w r orth, and 
what you weigh ; \ and not we alone, but other good 
people know it as well ; among whom, especially 
greet you, Jungfer Fahlmer, the Resident's wife, 
and the Gerocks. Every Saturday we talk of 
brother Crespel, and regret that you do not help us 

* " Unci die seidnen Buben beguckten mich von vorn und 
hinten." George, in Goetz von Berlichingen. (The silken pages 
stared at me from head to foot.) 

f Goethe. It will be remembered that the spirit of caste was 
so strong at Weimar that, in the end, the Duke found it politic to 
have Goethe " ennobled." 

% Continuation of the comparison to a bar of gold. 



44 Goethe s Mother. 

to laugh. We have now a hobby which gives us 
great pleasure : it is the new German opera by Pro- 
fessor Klein, in Mannheim, Gunther von Schwarz- 
burg y which has been improved and augmented by 
the praiseworthy Saturday society, with notes, re- 
marks, and even designs. Further, Philip has sent 
us a programme of the Carnival diversions at Wei- 
mar, wherein, among other things, there is a tragedy 
bearing the title, Life and Deeds, DeatJi, and Recep- 
tion in Elysium of the late celebrated Queen Dido of 
Carthage. A tragedy in thirty-one scenes, never 
before represented ; a spectacle such as has never 
been seen or heard of under the sun. Among other 
things, Jack Pudding (Hanswurst) is Mayor of Car- 
thage, and rival to ^Eneas. Further, the first fifteen 
scenes are represented on the earth, and in this 
life : now at Carthage, now in a forest, now in a 
market-place, now in a room, and so on. The fol- 
lowing ten scenes occur in Hades, but the last six in 
beautiful Elysium. In one word, the thing should be 
read when one has an indigestion, and I will answer 
for the cure. . . . Farewell, dear, good friend ! 
rest assured that I am your true friend and mother, 

C. E. Goethe. 

9. Frau Rath to Lavater. 

Frankfort, the 13th June, 1777. 

DEAR Son : God's blessing upon you and all be- 
longing to you ! Here is a little book which I am 
directed from Weimar to send to you. Who the 
author is, God knows. 

But, dear son, what are you about ? One hears 



Frau Rath to Lavater. 45 

and sees nothing from the good Lavater, who is 
to me so dear. With us it is as it is written : the 
heart of man is defiant and desponding. Since my 
children are no longer with me, everything depends 
upon the letters we receive. From Weimar we have 
good news from Emmendingen. Is Frau Schlos- 
ser * ill ? perhaps dangerously ? God knows ! If 
the post were not about leaving, I could write more, 
but the little book has been here longer than it 
ought. Let us trust everything to the Lord : He is 
love, consequently all will go well. Greet wife and 
children, and rest assured that I am your faithful 
mother and true friend, 

Goethe. 

N.B. Is it not so ? You have forgotten the cop- 
per-plates, which were for us ; a portion of them 
belong in the first " Essay on Physiognomy;" and 
then there is the Herr Rath's portrait, and mine 
also. 



There is in Lavater's diary an interesting account 
of a visit to the Frau Rath's daughter, Cornelia, 
about whom so much anxiety is expressed (and just- 
ly) in the preceding letter. Lavater visited her in 
1774, on his way to Frankfort, three years before her 
death. 

" Sunday, the 19th June, I arrived at the post- 
house in Carlsruhe. I asked at once for Herr Hof- 
rath Schlosser. He is not at his country place. 
But the Frau Hofr'athin ? f Oh yes. I set forth 

* Her only daughter, Cornelia, f Councillor's wife. 



46 Goethe s Mother, 

without delay, very curious to see Schlosser's wife 
and Goethe's sister. I knocked : a young, sprightly 
girl came out — not the Councillor's wife, thought I. 
Directly behind her came a tall, pale, very august 
lady, in a white dress ; both transfixed me with their 
eyes — began to smile : ' Ah, perhaps you are Herr 
Lavater ? ' 'I am.' The young girl shouted out so 
loud that Frau Schlosser shut the door, where com- 
pany was sitting. ' Not so loud, my child. Are 
you Lavater ? ' The young girl continued to hop 
about, shout, seized me by the hand, led me into 
Schlosser's very lofty, very simple study, full of a 
thousand things. I begged them to return to their 
visitors. They went. I looked a little over the li- 
brary, read the Frankfort Advertiser, drank a cup of 
tea. In the mean time Frau Schlosser came back. 
Her husband was occupied in some business in the 
vicinity of Strasbourg. I wrote a note to Goethe, 
as his sister said he was expecting me on Sunday. 
Now the visitors went away, another girl came in, 
sister of the first one, Antoinette and Catharine 
Gerock : how glad they were to see me ! Goethe's 
profile in plaster hung in the room, a perfect like- 
ness ; portraits of Goethe's parents, of Fraulein von 
Klettenberg, a matchless old lady. We talked of 
Laocoon, which stood in the room ; we went into 
their simple garden, which had been laid out by their 
own hands ; we talked of a hundred other things — 
of my friends in Zurich, of Passavant, of Merck, who 
is too indolent to write letters, but has made an 
excellent translation, of our pleasure at being to- 
gether." 




Goethe's Sister, Cornelia Schlosser. 

Drawn by Goethe in the margin of a proof-sheet of Gotz von 
Berhchingen (1773), and sent to Frederica Oeser. From an en- 
graving in Robert Koenig's "Deutsche Literahf-geschichte." 



Frati Rath to Lavater. 47 



10. Frau Rath to Lavater. 

Frankfort, the 23d June, 1777. 
"He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that 
have no might he increaseth strength."* His word 
shall surely stand. New, living, present witnesses 
are we, who know that our Cornelia, our only 
daughter, is now in the grave ; and indeed, wholly 
unexpectedly; the flash and the stroke were one. O 
dear Lavater ! The poor mother had much, much 
to bear. My husband had been ill the whole winter 
— the careless shutting of a door would startle him 
— and to him I had to be the messenger of the death 
of his daughter, whom he loved above everything. 
My heart was as if crushed ; but the thought, " Shall 
there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done 
it ?" f sustained me, so that I did not sink under 
my grief. Without a belief as firm as a rock in God 
— the God who numbers the hairs of the head, with- 
out whom no sparrow falls ; who neither slumbers 
nor sleeps, J who is never gone on a journey,§ who 
knows the thought of my heart before it is formed, 
who hears me without my having need to cut myself 
with knives and lancets till the blood gushes out ; § 
who, in one word, is love — without belief in Him it 
would be impossible to bear any such thing. Truly 
man feels his own (weak) nature. Paul says, No 
chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous ; | 
but it is one thing to feel, another to be discon- 
tented with God's leading, and to put one's self in 

* Isaiah 40 : 29. f Amos 3:6. % Psalms 121 : 4. 

§ Allusions to 1 Kings 18 : 27-28. || Hebrews 12 : 11. 



48 Goethe s Mother. 

the place of those tfeb have no hope. But we who 
know that beyond £Le grave dwells immortality, and 
that our life, which is but a span long, may also 
soon be at its end — us it becomes to kiss the hand 
that chastens us, and to say (truly with a thousand 
tears), " The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken 
away : blessed be the name of the Lord." * 

Dear son, your r^er did me much good ; and yet 
you are vexed w ourself that you cannot comfort 

us. But if I tellyou that it was a cordial to me that 
I had open before me your whole, warm, feeling, 
friendly heart ? for if I only see a line of yours, all 
the happy moments occur to me when we ate at the 
same table, when you were under my roof, when 
you came at nine o'clock in the evening to my sit- 
ting-room, where I had hardly seen you a moment, 
and yet knew at once on which round of the long 
ladder on which my sons stand I should place you, 
and that I was not mistaken ; how I wept the 
whole day of your departure — all this comes back to 
memory if I but see your handwriting on an ad- 
dress. Forgive me, dear son, that I go on scrib- 
bling so long. Know it is now one of my dearest 
occupations to write letters to the friends who are 
near to my heart, who share with me joy and sor- 
row. I live in this great city as in a desert. I have 
only one of the Fahlmers who understands me 
(and she is now, unfortunately, in Diisseldorf). Now, 
my dear friend, farewell ; greet your dear wife. 
One thing more : I have received two excel- 
lent letters from my dear son Schlosser. He bears 

'* Job 1 : 21. 



Wi eland to Frait ith. 49 

it as a Christian, and a man, a* -believes in God. 
Now the Almighty bless you, .. i all belonging to 
you. Keep your love for me ; mine shall endure to 
the grave — yes, beyond it — this says, and will main- 
tain. Your faithful 

Mother Aja. 



1 1 . Wieland to Frav ith. 

Dear Mother Aja : This install receive a let- 
ter from Klinger, which puts me in some perplexity. 
He offers me a Avork, " The Ladies' Apology, or 
the New Orpheus," a tragical story: he has writ- 
ten it, he says, to aid his mother, and it is at the 
service of the Mercury, serially, provided I will give 
him for his mother's benefit as much as I would 
give any other honest, good-hearted fellow. Now 
Klinger is dear to me, and I would not begrudge it 
to his poor mother, if her son's " New Orpheus'' 
might contribute something toward her coming bet- 
ter through the approaching winter. But, you see 
yourself, dearest Frau Aja, that this alone is not 
sufficient. If this work should be of the same stamp 
as our friend Klinger' s previous tragic explosions, I 
could not use it for the Mercury. I must, there- 
fore, in order not to buy a cat in a bag, know before- 
hand what it is. You have in former times interested 
yourself for poor Klinger, dear mother ; I know not 
how the case stands now, or whether he in the mean 
time has done anything to incur the loss of your 
favor. But if he still, as I suspect, has admittance 
to you, I would like to beg you to get him to give 
you the above-mentioned manuscript , and then to 



5<d Goethe s Mother. 

have you give me a candid opinion of it. But 
should this commission be in the slightest degree 
disagreeable and inconvenient to you, let it be as if 
I had not mentioned it. Klinger may then send 
me his manuscript himself, and take the chance 
whether I can use it or not. 

This winter, my charming little mother, we see 
each other — I am coming to pass Christmas with 
you ; for I must go to Mannheim to hear Schweit- 
zer's Rosamnnde, for which (as people say) I have 
written the text. To musical souls it will be a 
great festival. But the best of it is that it gives 
me an opportunity to pay you a visit at Frankfort, 
and to our Merck at Darmstadt. I cannot express 
to you how much I rejoice in the prospect of it. 

Your son Goethe is sitting, like Dr. Luther two 
centuries and a half ago in the Wartburg, and 
sketches the Monk and the Nun,* and feels quite 
at home among the spirits of the old knightly times 
who haunt that noble castle ; so I believe — for he 
gives to poor me no sign of life. Perhaps he does no 
better by you ; but for all that he loves us none 
the less. With all his peculiarities, he is and con- 
tinues to be one of the best, noblest, and most ad- 
mirable men on God's earth. And who, now, would 
not wish to know personally the father and mother 
of such a man ? My best respects to the former, 

* A rock, bearing a fancied resemblance to two persons embrac- 
ing, projects from the Mittelstein, a hill near the Wartburg, and 
has attached to it the legend that it represents the petrified forms 
of a monk and nun, who, escaping- from their cloisters, were here 
turned into stone at the moment of meeting. Wieland has versi- 
fied this legend. 



Wieland to Frau RatJi. 5 1 

and let me know, at your convenience, if your son 
Wieland will be welcome ? 

Weimar, the 30th September, 1777. 

May I beg you to forward the inclosed letter to 

Klinger ? 



12. Wieland to Frau Rath. 

Dear Frau Aja : A thousand thanks for your 
reiterated assurance that I shall find a friendly wel- 
come in your hospitable house. I leave here on the 
13th, and have the fixed intention to be with you 
by Wednesday, therefore a day sooner than I lately 
wrote. But it will be best, dear mother, that you 
do not expect me, and as a matter of course I hope 
that I shall not disturb in any particular the order and 
method of your household. The greatest honor you 
can show me is to treat me as a son. The violinist * 
is a very good creature, though a clumsy lout, who 
shall let you hear something of his savoir faire. 

Not a word further. All my thoughts have ridden 
on before with twenty-four horn-blowing postilions, 
and there is nothing of me here but a little bit of 
heart and a wandering shadow. 

Adieu, dear good mother ; commend me to your 
lord and master, whom I cannot yet greet as father 
until I see if he has any fancy to acknowledge him- 
self as such. 

My mother and the wife of my heart greet you ; 
and the latter, with all her goodness and equanimity, 
envies me, after all, a little, this time. If it were 



* Kranz, who was to accompany him. 



52 Goethe s Af other. 

not for the little one, I truly believe I should bring 
her with me. But that now cannot be. 

Brother Wolf is not yet here. He returns as I 
leave. Philip, however, already has the book. 
Many thanks for my copy. Further of this by 
word of mouth. 

WEIMAR, the ioth December, 1777. 

Once more adieu, from your . 

Affectionate son, 

WlELAND. 

13. Wicland to Frau Rath. 

Mannheim, the 23d Decemb., 1777. 

DEAREST Mother : Here I am now at Mannheim, 
and Heaven only knows how I feel. My heart and 
mind are with you and our dear good papa, and our 
friend Merck, with whom I am now for always and 
ever agreed. What a fall, dear mother ! from your 
house into the bottom-mud of the great frog-ditch 
of Abdera ! * Let us not speak of it. We will see 
how we may extricate ourselves with honor. As 
soon as I can stand it no longer, I hasten back to you. 
The famous opera, which was to have been played 
for the first time on the 7th January, is now, accord- 
ing to report not to be given till the 13th or 14th. 
Oh, these people ! — I see in advance that I shall be 
here in a continual rage, and my friends can there- 
fore be perfectly at ease about my bonhommie. 

Ade, dear Papa, dear mother Aja ! May Heaven 

* Allusion to his novel, "Die Abderiten," which has been 
translated into English, under the title of " The Republic of Fools : 
being the History of the State and People of Abdera in Thrace." 



Wieland to Frail Rath. 53 

recompense you for the blissful days which I have 
lived with and through you ? Kranz bends his 
knees. The good fellow cried like a child when we 
were outside of Frankfort, and once more in the 
open, and said from time to time wonderful things 
in the storm and stress of his heart. Once more, 
adieu, best of mothers ! I beg you to send the in- 
closed to the post, and ever to hold dear 
Your son, 

Wieland. 
Our greetings to all deserving them. 

14. Wieland to Fran Rath. 

Dear Mother : The day of my deliverance out 
of this Babylonian Abdera approaches. A general 
rehearsal of Rosamunde with the scenery, which is to 
be given next Wednesday, detains me still ; other- 
wise I should have left to-day. The precise day 
when I shall be again with you I cannot name, for 
the reason that I do not yet know whether I shall 
make my visit to Herr Grosschlag from Darmstadt 
or from Frankfort. But I know, dearest Frau Aja, 
that I shall be welcome to you and our dear Papa, 
let me come when I will. From home I have very 
good reports. Adieu, dear, best mother. How 
much that is amusing we shall have to relate to you 
of this fair Mannheim ! 

Kranz makes his salamale * in all the devotion of 
his heart. 

MANNHEIM, the 12th January, 1778. 

Your very own W. 

* Low bow, salaam. 



54 Goethe s Mother. 

Wieland did not see the opera brought out : at 
the last moment it was indefinitely postponed by 
the death of the Elector of Bavaria, which threw the 
court into mourning. The only point of interest 
connected with it is that it brought Wieland ac- 
quainted with Mozart, who conducted one of the re- 
hearsals. 



15. Fran Rath to Frdulein von Gochhausen. 

The following doggerel verses are a reply by the 
Frau Rath to a similar effusion from Fraulein von 
Gochhausen, written on green paper, and containing 
birthday greetings. They are without date ; but Dr. 
Keil, from the context, assigns them to February, 
1778. We give them in the original, followed by an 
attempt at translation : 

Dein guter Wunsch auf griin Papier 

Hat mir gemacht sehr viel Plasir, 

Im Verse machen habe nicht viel gethan, 

Das sieht mann diesen warlich an, 

Doch hab ich gebohren ein Knablein schon 

Das thut das alles gar trefflich verstehn, 

Schreibt Puppenspiele kunterbunt 

Tausend Alexandriner in einerStund. 

Doch da derselbe zu dieser Frist 

Geheimdter Legations Rath in Weimar ist, 

So kan Er bei bewandten Sachen 

Keine Verse vor Frau Aja machen. 

Sonst solltest du wohl was besseres kriegen, 

Jetzt musst du dich hieran begniigen, 

Es mag also dabei verbleiben 

Ich will meinen Dank in Prosa schreiben. 

Thy friendly wish on paper green, 
To me a pleasure great has been ; 



Frau Rath to Lavater. 55 

In verses I have not much done, 

As may be seen by this very one ; 

Yet I have borne a little boy fair 

Who understands it to a hair : 

Writes puppet-plays, gay, full of power, 

Makes alexandrines a thousand in an hour ; 

But as he now, in present days, 

As Privy Councillor in Weimar stays, 

So can he, for Frau Aja's sake, 

In this case no pretty verses make, 

Else shoulds't thou have had something better sent, 

But now must be with this content ; 

So it is, and so let it be. 

My thanks, in prose, I'll write to thee. 

Fraulein von Gochhausen was maid-of-honor to the 
Duchess Amalia. She was little and crooked, but 
with all the wit and not a few sparks of the malice 
which tradition associates with ill-shape. Oddly- 
enough, they all called her Thusnelda, after the wife 
of the German hero, Arminius, who figures in Tac- 
itus. The name was a bitter jest, as applied to the 
little maid, but she accepted it, and doubtless gave 
many a biting repartee in return for it. The Duke 
and Goethe are said to have been very fond of her, 
although active hostilities were always going on be- 
tween them, in the warfare of wit, fun, and practical 
jokes. 

16. Frau Rath to Lavatcr. 

Frankfort, the 20th March, 1778. 
Dear Son : How fares it with you in 
this work-a-day world ? ... If the good God 
would only, for just once more, grant me the joy of 
seeing you at my round table ! To have you once 
more with us is and continues to be one of my 



56 Goethe s Mother. 

favorite ideas, out of which I often weave for myself 
the most charming fancies. This winter we have 
also become acquainted with friend Wieland. Who- 
soever sees that man and does not grow to love 
him, I will not express my opinion about him. He 
(Wieland) was with us 8 days, together with friend 
Merck. Oh, what a delightful period was that, once 
more ! You would not understand it so, for among 
you there are still a few good people ; but among 
us ! ! ! ! I am only afraid of rusting out ; where one 
is obliged to associate with none but bad people, 
there is 1000 to 1 to be wagered, that if one does not 
give heed, one becomes bad too. How are Kauff- 
man and his dear wife ? I would indeed like to see 
him as father of a family : it must suit his face very 
well. Brother Wolf is well, thank God ; is very 
happy in his little garden-house, and for the birthday 
of the reigning Duchess has composed a nice piece 
of work, a drama,* of which the monodrame Pros- 
erpina forms a portion. He sent it to us to read, for 
it will hardly be printed. Schlosser and his children 
are well. Klinger is now with him. 

Farewell, dear son ! Greet your whole household, 
also all dear friends, and be assured that we are and 
remain your true and faithful friends. 

C. E. Goethe. 

P.S. If it were possible for you to send us a few 
more impressions of the Doctor's portrait, in copper- 
plate, we should thank you heartily for them ; people 



* " Der Triumph der Empfindsamkeit " (The Triumph of Sensi- 
bility). 



Frati Rath to Lavate?\ 57 

torment us continually for some such thing as a me- 
mento. 

17. Frau Rath to Lavater. 

Frankfort, the 26th June, 1778. 

Dear Son : The Doctor has sent us from Weimar 
the fourth part of the " Physiognomy," but without 
plates, for which (as he says) we are to address our- 
selves to you. So, dear Lavater, the plates for the 
fourth part. We are sorry that we must trouble you 
so often, but, after all, one does not like to have im- 
perfect books; and what would a " Physiognomy" 
be without plates ? 

I would gladly write you much and many things, 
but for to-day it is not possible — only this much, that 
we once more in this earthly life have had joyous 
days : the Duchess Mother * has been with us. I 
care nothing for lauding and praising. One must 
always see things for one's self, everything else is wea- 
risome twaddle ; therefore I say to you nothing more 
than that we were delighted. 

The Doctor, thank God, is well and happy. Be 
sure to thank Kaufmann's wife for her dear little 
letter ; I shall also write her soon. Your dear wife — 
of whom, this very day, a certain Herr Reinwald has 
told me so much that is good — greet her, too, a 
thousand times, the dear good woman. 

Kiss your children, remain our friend, as you know 
that we to the end of our days are your true friends. 

C. E. Goethe. 

* Duchess Anna Amalia of Saxe-Weimar. 



Goethe s Mother. 



1 8. Wieland to Frau Rath. 

Dear, best Frau Aja : Here is your Mercury iox 
the month of July. There is a place in it, viz., a 
little parcel to the address of a certain Herr Burgo- 
meister of N. N.,* otherwise called Anti-Pope, f 
which was already written and printed, when it came 
by chance to my ears that Aunt Fahlmer was going 
to marry the Anti-Pope. Had any one, as occasion 
offered, very prettily written me this, I would, out 
of love to the good aunt, have passed the sponge 
over the past, and not stood upon trifles. Now, it is 
as it is. For the rest, I am glad that your grand- 
children are to have so good a Vice-Mother, and am 
willing to grant the Moralist his good fortune, if our 
Lord God grants it to him, although his whole way 
of thinking is odious to me. 

Our dear Duchess % we are now expecting daily, 
and I rejoice in anticipation over all that is dear and 
good which I shall hear about the Casa Santa § in 
Frankfort. Farewell, dear mother, and do not 
utterly forget your son, although born to you without 
travail. 

Weimar, the 26th Jul., 1778. 

Wieland. 

* Nomen nescio. 

f The Frau Rath's son-in-law, Schlosser, who had published a 
translation of Pope's " Essay on Man," with an introduction en- 
titled, "Anti-Pope, oder Versuch iiber den nattirlichen Menschen" 
(Anti-Pope, or an Essay on the Natural Man). 

% The Duchess Anna Amalia. 

§ Casa Santa. The Goethe house in Frankfort. The above 
letter seems to be the source of this name, by which the Goethe 
house was generally known in the circle of friends. 



Fraulein von Gochhausen to Frau Rath. 59 

19. Fraulein von Gochhausen to Frau Rath. 

Ettersburg, the 25th 8br., 78. 

Heartily beloved Frau Aja, I always rejoice when 
I sit down to write to you ; but would to Heaven that 
my letters might be something to you, or that I 
always knew something interesting to write to you. 
This time I will tell you of the last theatrical merry- 
making which took place here at the ducal residence 
at Ettersburg. I shall inflict every kind of burning 
torment on Dr. Wolf and Philip, if I hear that they 
have already written you of the whole affair ; for I 
begged these children of men to leave me, for once, 
this pleasure. 

Therefore, the 20th October of this, under God, 
passing year, it occurred that the Me'decin malgre lui, 
translated by Einsiedel, and the Jahrmarktsfest zu 
Plunder swelter n were performed in the newly-built 
Ettersburg theatre, to the great delight of all spec- 
tators, high and low. For three entire weeks before- 
hand there was no end of noise and hammering, and 
our Princess,* Dr. Wolf, Krauss, etc., were constantly 
tumbling over each other in their great labor and 
assiduity. . . . Dr. Wolf played all his parts 
beyond measure excellently and well ; had also taken 
great care to rig himself out, especially as the 
Marktschreier (Mountebank). O could wishes have 
conjured you here to us, just for those few hours ! 

Among the spectators was the Hereditary Prin- 
cess of Brunswick, who had come a few days before, 
and manifested great pleasure in our peep-show. 



* Duchess Anna Amalia. 



60 Goethe s Mother. 

After the play a great banquet was given, after 
which the persons of rank took leave in a body (ex- 
cept our Duchess), but for us pack of players there 
was arranged a grand ball, which lasted till the clear, 
bright morning, and all was merriment and good- 
nature. To say, also, something of myself, I can- 
not help mentioning, with all modesty, that I played 
the noble governess in the puppet-show very nicely. 



20. Duchess Anna Amalia of Saxe-Weimar to Fran 
Rath. 

Ettersburg, the 4th November, 78. 

Dear Mother : I cannot sufficiently express to 
you how glad I was to hear that you were well, and 
that you for once have had, also, a few good days.* 
Friend Merck is right in insisting on coming here 
with you, dear mother, next spring ; do not look 
upon the matter as so difficult. Friend Wolff wishes 
it too : we have lately talked a great deal about it. 
We will provide the old father, during the time, with 
all sorts of entertainment. Kranz shall come, and 
shall play to him on the violin in a model style. I 
think, dear mother, that your heart will itself speak 
enough for your Hatschel Hans f to make you wish 
to see him once more. You cannot think how much 
I rejoice in the thought of it. 

Thusnelde will give you a full description of the 

* The failing health of the Herr Rath gave his wife, at this time, 
much care and anxiety. 

f An English equivalent for Hatschel Hans would perhaps be 
Johnny Darling Hatscheln, to fondle, to pet ; Hans, Johnny. 
Goethe's name was Johann Wolfgang. 



Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 61 

fete, which I have given here. Our friend Wolff has 
had the friendship for me to arrange everything 
himself ; the Jahrmarkt von Plimderszveilem went 
off splendidly. Your son sends you a copy of it, as 
it was played here. The ballad-singer's picture, 
Wolff, Krauss, and I painted : it is something more 
for your W^eimar room. The music to the songs I 
am going to have arranged for the harpsichord, and 
as soon as it is done you shall have it also. Fare- 
well, best mother, and think of me as a friend who 
is attached to you for life. 



AMELIE. 



Many greetings to the old father. 



The Duchess Anna Amalia is one of the most 
charming figures in the Weimar circle. Genial, 
light-hearted, fond of pleasure, she was also not 
lacking in judgment, good-sense, and discretion. 
She governed her duchy with ability, yet resigned it 
without regret to her son, Carl August, on his coming 
of age. Thenceforward the Court of the Duchess 
Mother was the centre of the mirth and fun, the wit 
and wisdom of Weimar, while her daughter-in-law, 
Louise, the reigning Duchess, maintained, on her 
part, stateliness and formal dignity, and possessed 
the happy talent of saying the right thing at the 
right time. Her noble bearing after the battle of 
Jena has passed into history, with the exclamation 
wrung from Napoleon, 

' Voila une femme, qu'avec nos deux cent 
canons, nous n'avons pu faire trembler." 

The Frau Rath was just the woman to please the 
Duchess Mother. The latter wrote to her with the 



62 Goethe s Mother. 

utmost freedom, and the Frau Rath responded with 
equal heartiness, so that a letter from her " dear 
mother Aja" was greeted by the Duchess as a joyful 
event. The reader should not be misled by the Frau 
Rath's compliments, and frequent repetitions of 
" Serene Highness ;" these are the mere externals 
resulting, naturally, from the great distance which 
separated the Frau Rath socially from a Duchess, 
especially in the eighteenth century. At that period 
adulation had not, as now, ceased to be thought 
polite, as is pointed out by Lord Houghton in regard 
to Humboldt.* 

To the present day, after all the chances and 
changes of time, German epistolary forms remain 
an object of wonder and amazement to all not edu- 
cated to them. 

Of the Duchess Amalia, Goethe wrote : " What- 
ever can give grace or charm to life, she sought with 
wise moderation to collect around her. . . . She 
delighted in the conversation of persons of talent, 
and sought occasions of forming connections of this 
kind, of maintaining them, and of turning them to 
account ; indeed, there is no one of any note con- 
nected with Weimar whose powers were not, sooner 
or later, called forth in her circle." (Address in 
commemoration of the Duchess Amalia.) 

21. Merck to Wieland. 

Frckf., the 2 1 st Novbr., 1778. 
DEAR Brother : I left home last Monday. Have 
had a troublesome investigation in the country, and 

* Monographs by Lord Houghton. 



Merck to Wieland. 63 

have another before me next week. Meantime my 
way led me through Frankfort, and thus I have 
passed, now, two days in Casa Santa, and have 
recapitulated with Frau Aja everything that oc- 
curred to us last year in this room. Yesterday all 
the maidens were again together, who came last 
year on your account so often to the house, and 
Madame Brentano played again the jig on the harp- 
sichord. At the same time we remembered thee in 
the evening, in the capital wine cursed Jacobi * and 
his like, and my tears flowed down at all these inci- 
dents, and because it is now a whole year since we 
have seen each other, and that it would be another 
half year before anything of the kind could occur. 
Hereupon the Herr Rath generously declared that he 
was willing to let his wife go, in case the Duke would 
send Fr. Kranz to play to him on the violin while 
we played our little piece at Weimar. There will 
be shortly issued by me a supplication in form, in 
the name of Frau Aja and consort, to the Duke, to 
release the musician Kranz from his duties for four 
weeks in case we are desired. 

On the back of the letter Frau Rath wrote as fol- 
lows : 

The 24th November, 1778. 

Dear Son : Merck was with us three days. Now 
that he is gone, I look about his room and put 
things in order — a work very necessary where poets 
have been, as you can sufficiently see from the fore- 

* Wieland complained because Jacobi gave him so little assist- 
ance in carrying on the Mercury, which they had undertaken 
together. 



64 Goethe s Mother. 

going letter. For the poor letter would have surely 
lain here and never reached its destination had 
Frau Aja less insight into poets' ways. But she is, 
thank God ! not yet out of practice, although Herr 
Wolfgang Goethe, for now three years, no longer 
gladdens her house, but lets his light shine in Wei- 
mar. Dear son, have the kindness to forward the 
inclosed letter. With the Anti-Pope everything has 
been attended to : each one has his own way of think- 
ing. I hope soon to hear good reports from you 
and your dear wife. 

I am, although in great haste, 

Eure wahre Freundin,* 

Goethe. 



Johann Heinrich Merck was the son of an apothe- 
cary at Darmstadt, and held there the position of 
paymaster in the army, with the title of Kriegsrath, 
which looks rather formidable if translated into War 
Councillor. Goethe made his acquaintance after his 
return home from Strassburg, and Merck was among, 
the first to recognize and thoroughly appreciate the 
genius of his friend., He urged the publication of 
" Goetz von Berlichingen," which the two published 
jointly, as they knew Goethe's father would give no 
aid toward it, although the old gentleman was proud 
enough of it when it appeared. 

Introduced by Goethe to the Weimar circle, Merck 
at once won the favorable opinion of the Duchess 

* The feminine form, Freundin, makes it clear who is the 
writer, which would not be the case were we to substitute, "your 
true friend," Goethe. 



Wieland to Frau Rath. 65 

Amalia and of her son the Duke. The latter availed 
himself of Merck's keen judgment in art matters, 
and found him a very valuable assistant in the 
purchase of pictures and in collecting engravings. 
When the Duke or the Duchess Amalia made jour- 
neys to the Rhine, Merck was always in attendance to 
accompany them to galleries and point out the mer- 
its of collections. His duties as paymaster occu- 
pied but a small portion of his time. 

Merck had but little productive talent, but was a 
born critic, and had a clear insight in literature and 
art, and was of great service to Goethe at the outset 
of his career. Goethe somewhat ungenerously gave 
him the sobriquet of Mephistopheles, and he is said 
to have furnished some traits for the portraiture of 
that personage in Faust. Later in life Merck be- 
came much interested in fossil bones, groping about 
with great zeal in the darkness which prevailed on 
that subject before the classifications of Cuvier. He 
seems to have been driven hither and thither by an 
energetic, restless spirit, and, at length, overwhelmed 
by the failure of a commercial undertaking, and tor- 
mented by an organic disease, he put an end to his 
own life. 

22. Wieland to Frau Rath. 

DEAREST Frau Aja : I have had to-day to write 
such an enormous heap of wearisome business letters 1 
that I am as tired as a dog, and as dried up as a 
Professor Moralium. It is therefore impossible for 
me to write more to my dear mother with the Mer- 
cury, which herewith waits upon her than that her 
last letter, written jointly with brother Merck, gave 



66 Goethe s Mother, 

me heartfelt pleasure. I went at once myself with 
the letter for the Duchess, and as a recompense for 
the pleasure your prose gave her I passed a very 
charming evening with this truly incomparable 
woman. I have not seen her in such good-humor 
for 7 years as on that evening. She will meantime 
have probably written herself to Eu. Lbdn,* as she 
certainly counts upon the pleasure of seeing her be- 
loved Frau Aja here in the spring. In return, 
Kranz shall appear at your house with viol and 
violin, and play so much that is beautiful and new 
to the Herr Rath (to whom my most obedient re- 
spects) that he thereby shall forget all his suffering. 
Something further in the course of a fortnight. For 
the present, iooo times ade, from 

Your very own son, 

WlELAND. 
W., 4th Decemb., 1778. 

23. Wieland to Merck. 

Weimar, the 9th Dec, 1778. 
L. Br. : f My little flock has again increased itself, 
the 7 hujus, in the afternoon between 3 and 4, with 
a lively, well-formed boy, who is all the dearer to 
me because he cost his mother very little pain, and 
slipped into the world as lightly and nimbly as the 
very devil himself. On the other hand, he has, it is 
true, no such huge brain-case as Louis, his elder 
brother ; but as this is a security to me that he will 

* Abbreviation for Euere Liebden — your love, 
f Lieber Bruder. 



Wieland to Merck* 67 

be so much the less a poet, it is all the more agree- 
able to me. In short, he is a very nice little man, 
and, according to all appearances, as happily or- 
ganized as one need be to be well of! in this world. 
But now, L. Br., comes another important point, 
and this is, that I, in order to introduce the new- 
comer to the world under so much the better 
auspices, have given thee and Frau Aja to him as 
godparents, and I shall have you both, ex consensu 
prcesitmtOy written down in the church-book in this 
capacity ; hoping that you will be favorably inclined 
also toward this my offspring, out of love to me, 
and, as much as God shall give you opportunity and 
power, will help to make him an honest and useful 
fellow, which you can count upon being reciprocated 
by me toward my little godchild, so long as there is 
in me breath and motion. 

I am now 20 per cent better than before, and if 
it keeps on a while in this way I shall become a 
thoroughly good patriarch. 

Thy last letter, Herzens br.,* with what thou 
writest of thy feelings at the round table in Casa 
Santa, and of our Duchess Amalia's letters to 
Frau Aja, has stirred my whole heart. But I 
can say nothing to thee about it, except that it 
seems to me as if I could feel into thy soul ; and I 
wish that I could kiss the scars which are the cause 
that a heart like thine feels so strangely at every not 
too ordinary expression of kindness, precisely as if 
thou anxiously fearedst it might be — only an illu- 
sion ! Good, excellent man ! What must thou have 

* Heart's brother. 



68 Goethe s Mother. 

suffered to come to this ! With such susceptibility 
and delicate feeling for everything good and pure in 
human nature, with such a natural disposition to love 
and to devote thyself ! I dare not say any more 
about it. But if I were to become untrue to thee, I 
shall have first poisoned my wife and strangled my 
seven children. Rely upon that ! 

That to me and to all here, who but hang to me 
by a thread, Goethe has become in very many 
things the greatest benefit, I recognize daily more 
and more, and honor and love him for it also, from 
the bottom of my heart. . Should Heaven further 
bless us at Christmas with a prince, it will be thor- 
oughly well with us ; were it to be a princess, I 
should be sorry most for the young Duchess, who 
seems to have wholly taken it into her little Hessian* 
head that it must be a prince. Ah, dear man ! God 
grant thee further joy in thy two jovial boys, and in 
all belonging to thee. 



The birth of Louis, the elder brother, Wieland 
had previously announced to Gleim : 

Weimar, the 30th October, 1777. 
Dearest Brother Gleim, and dear, dear 
Sister Cleminde : In two words only: Victory! 
Day before yesterday evening, at 9 o'clock, we re- 
ceived a sound, pretty, broad-headed, large-nosed, 

* The Duchess Louise was a princess of Hesse-Darmstadt. 
The child was not born until the 3d of Februar) 7 , 1779, and was a 
princess, who died at the age of five years. 



Duchess Anna Amalia to Merck, 69 

in short, splendid boy, in whom may God grant us 
to live to have joy. It was after a somewhat hard 
struggle of Nature, through which, God be praised, 
mother and child have passed most favorably. He 
has a strong look and a good, manly voice. It seems 
to me as if I saw how all this rejoices you, dear 
souls. With me it now begins a Conto Nuovo. The 
Duchess Louise and Prince Constantin were the god- 
parents, and the Duke was so kind as to be present 
in person at the baptism. In return, the boy is 
named Ludwig Friedrich August. Give him an 
uncle's blessing, dear heart's brother, and may you 
live to see him become a man. Amen ! 

Very much in the same strain is this letter from 
the Duchess Anna Amalia to Merck : 

Weimar, the 28th Dec, 1778. 

L. M. : * In thought I have ever been writing to 
you, but as wise Mother Nature did not bestow upon 
me such a nose-bone as she gave to Kaufmann, by 
virtue of which he can do everything he wishes, I 
have had to submit to wishing only when I can per- 
form. But I do not know of much that is new to 
tell you from here. The most interesting to us is 
the daily expectation of the Duchess's confinement. 
Should it please Heaven to grant a nice boy, it will 
be a blessing for the whole country, and I am con- 
vinced that you will also feel an interest in it. 

Danischmend f has again, as you know, had a 

* Lieber Merck. 

f Wieland, so called from the title of one of his works. 



jo Goethe s Mother. 

christening. Je craius qua la fin il ne se ressente un 
peu y the frequent confinements of his wife and the 
Merctiry* But he seems to find great pleasure in 
both, so we must let him alone, chacun a sa folic. 
We have made a splendid acquisition here in an 
original by Rubens, which I gave at Christmas to my 
son the Duke. I write nothing about it, because 
you will view it in the spring with your own art- 
critic's eyes. 

The Waterloos f I enjoy in anticipation. Thus- 
nelde greets you with her whole soul. 

I am ever your sincere friend, 

Amelie. 

24. Frau Rath to Lavater. 

DEAR Son : It is long, very long, since we have 
seen or heard anything of you, my dear friend ; but 
what matters that. You are so deeply impressed 
upon our hearts, your memory is so blessed among 
us, your loving, friendly face is so present before our 
eyes, that no letters, no lifeless writing is necessary 
to remind us that the excellent man Lavater was in 
our midst, and walked among us. What pleases me 
least in this work-a-day world is that the best people 
can be very little to each other : God's plan demands 
that one in the east, another in the west shall salt 
the earth and keep it from corruption. My friends 
and dear ones are all far, far away from me: my 
forever-loved Klettenberg in a better world, my 

* The number of Wieland's children, which finally reached 
fourteen, was the subject of constant jest at Weimar, 
f Waterloo, a Dutch landscape painter. 



Frau Rath to Lavater. 71 

Fahlmer * in Emmendingen. There may well be 
other good people in Frankfort ; perhaps I may 
some time wonder in eternity that I have mistaken 
them here ; but for the time being Frau Aja goes 
on her way alone. 

How are you, then, dear good son ? How are 
your dear wife and children and friends ? I hope that 
all are happy and well. God keep you so. Amen. 

My husband, who sends his best respects to you, 
regrets that he must again give you trouble with the 
following. But if you call to mind the Herr Rath's 
great love of order you will readily see what an 
annoyance an imperfect book must cause in his col- 
lection (especially such an one as the " Physiog- 
nomy") ; and you will not take it amiss if he begs 
you to give the following numbers to some one of 
the Zurich merchants who come here to the Easter 
Fair. First, the copper-plates to the 4th part of 
the " Physiognomy," promised through Hrn Niisch- 
elern, as soon as possible. Second, the missing 
text to the third part, which Kriegsrath Merck sent 
you, as well as — third, a few more of the Herr 
Rath's portraits by Herr Schmoll. 

Once more, forgive the great trouble and plague. 

Your brother Wolf is, thank God, very well in 
Weimar. The Duchess Mother was here last sum- 
mer — an excellent woman, believe me on my word ; 
a great and noble human feeling animates her whole 
soul, but she does not prate nor vaunt herself, as so 
many mock sentimental persons are wont to do. 

Now, dear Lavater, God's blessing upon you and 

* Johanna Fahlmer, who had married Schlosser. 



J 2 Goethe s Mother, 

all yours. Greet all who still think of us, and be as- 
sured that I to the end of my pilgrimage am, 
Your true friend and faithful mother, 

C. E. Goethe. 
Frankfort, the 23d February, 1779. 



44 The friend and confidante of the Frau Rath was 
the pious, intelligent Fraiilein von Klettenberg. ' In 
her and in my mother,' says Goethe, ' I had two 
excellent guides ; I called them Rath und That 
(Word and Deed) ; for when the former cast her 
serene, nay blessed glance over earthly things, that 
which had perplexed the rest of us mortals readily 
unravelled itself before her, and she could almost 
always point out the right way, for the reason that 
she looked down into the labyrinth from above, and 
was not herself entangled in it ; then, when a deci- 
sion was once made we could rely upon my mother's 
readiness and energy. As sight aided the former, 
so faith came to the assistance of the latter, and as 
she retained her serenity in all circumstances, she 
was never wanting in expedients for accomplishing 
what was proposed or desired.' When Goethe in 
4 Wilhelm Meister ' had thrown the letters and con- 
versations of Fraiilein von Klettenberg into the form 
of the ' Bekenntnisse einer schonen Seele ' (Confes- 
sions of a Beautiful Soul), the Frau Rath copied 
with her own hand, for her son, from the ' Theo- 
logische Annalen,' a review of those pages, and 
added the following words : 4 My criticism is Psalm 
1 : 3 — His leaf also shall not wither.' It certainly did 



Frau Rath to Duchess Anna A mail a. j$ 

not occur to my dear Klettenberg that, after so long 
a time, her memory should still grow green and 
blossom, and bring blessings to after generations. 
Thou, my dear son, wast destined by Providence 
for the preservation and dissemination of these un- 
fading leaves. God's blessing and a thousand thanks 
for it ; and as it is clearly to be seen from this narra- 
tive that no good seed is lost, but bears fruit in its 
season, let us not be weary in well-doing, for the 
harvest will reward us with full barns. ' ' (Frau Rath, 
Briefwechsel, etc., by Dr. Keil). 



25. Fran Rath to the Duchess Anna Amalia, 

Frankfort, the nth April, 1779. 
Most Serene Princess : To judge by the appe- 
tite of my Saturday maidens,* the little biscuits 
must be gone long ago. I take now the great lib- 
erty to send your Serene Highness another small 
stock. Dear Princess, do not take my freedom 
unkindly. With us it is fair-time ! ! ! ! Weit- 
maulige Laffen, feilschen und gaffen, gaffen und 
kaufen, Bestienhaufen, Kinder und Fratzen, Affen 
und Katzen, etc.f Yet speak with respect, Frau 
Aja ! Madame La Roche is here too ! Dearest 
Princess, could Doctor Wolf only see the son-in- 

* " Meine Samstagsmadel." The Saturday circle of young girls 
previously alluded to. 

f From Goethe's " Jahrmarkt zu Plundersweilern." " Wide- 
mouthed coxcombs,higgling and staring, staring and buying, pack 
of brutes, children and frights, monkeys and cats, etc." These are 
the growls of the gypsy captain looking on at the fair, and longing 
to lead on his band to sack and plunder it. 



74 Goethe s Mother. 

law whom the authoress of Sternheim wants to hang 
on to her second daughter, he would, according to 
his former laudable habit, gnash his teeth, and 
swear right godlessly. Yesterday she presented 
the monster to me. Great Heavens ! ! ! ! if he 
would make me Queen of the Earth (America in- 
cluded), then — yes, even then, I should refuse 
him.* He looks like the devil in the 7th ques- 
tion in Luther's small catechism, is as stupid as a 
grasshopper, and, to add to all his ill-luck, is a Hof- 
rath (Court Councillor). If I comprehend anything 
of all this rubbish, may I become an oyster. A 
woman like La Roche, certainly, of no ordinary 
understanding, with moderate gifts of fortune, of 
respectability, rank, etc., who sets directly about 
making her daughters unhappy, and yet writes 
Sternheims and Frauenzimmer Briefe (young ladies' 
letters) ; in one word, my head turns round like a 
mill. Your Serene Highness will pardon me relat- 
ing all this, but I have the adventurer right before 
my eyes, and good Louisa's tears I cannot stand. 

The holiday has surely passed over successfully ; 
I too hope to learn something about it. Fraulein 
Thusnelde has a very charming gift for describing 
such festivities, and I trust she will maintain her 
reputation and let Frau Aja hear something about 
it, for she described the Jahrmarktsfest capitally. 
Should she do so, your Serene Highness will be 
gracious enough to present her with a share of the 

* " Ja, so gebe ich ihm einen Korb ;" literally, I should give him 
a basket, a German colloquialism signifying " to refuse a suitor;" 
a similar expression, " to give the mitten," is current in some parts 
of the United States. 



Merck to his Wife. 75 

biscuits. The father commends himself to further 
gracious favor, and Frau Aja, who is never so happy 
as when she thinks of the greatest, most excellent, 
most amiable, best of princesses, kisses in reverence 
and humility the hand of her dearest Princess, and 
remains to the grave, 

Her Serene Highness's obedient servant, 

C. E. Goethe. 

The monster is named Mohr, and is actual Court 
Councillor to the Elector of Treves. 



Should the reader find the conclusion of the above 
letter somewhat strongly expressed, he must bear in 
mind that, as I have already said, in the last century 
adulation was thought polite, as has been pointed 
out by Lord Houghton, in speaking of no less dis- 
tinguished a person than Alexander von Humboldt. 

Following the Frau Rath's letter about the mar- 
riage of Madame de la Roche's second daughter, 
Louise, we place Merck's letter to his wife about that 
of the first daughter, Maximiliane : 

Merck to his Wife. 

Darmstadt, 29th Jan., 1774. 
I was, last week, at Frankfort to see our friend De 
la Roche. She has made a very singular marriage 
for her daughter. The husband is moderately young, 
but is burdened with 5 children. For the rest, he is 
sufficiently rich, but a merchant who has few ideas 
beyond his business. It was a sad event to me to 



j6 Goethe s Mother. 

go to visit our friend amid barrels of herrings and 
cheeses. It seems that she (La Roche) allowed her- 
self to be persuaded by M. Dumeiz, who considered 
nothing but the fortune, and the particular advan- 
tage for himself to have an agreeable house to visit. 
Thou shouldst have seen Madame de la Roche 
making head against the idle talk and jocularity of 
these stout merchants : enduring their magnificent 
dinners, and trying to amuse their Dulnesses. There 
have been terrible scenes, and I do not know but she 
may be overwhelmed under the burden of her regrets. 
Goethe is already the friend of the family ; he plays 
with the children, and accompanies Madame's harp- 
sichord with the bass-viol. M. Brentano, although 
rather jealous for an Italian, is fond of him, and 
wishes positively that he should frequent the house." 



The early history of Sophie de la Roche is a singu- 
lar one. She was the daughter of a Dr. Gutermann, 
of Augsburg. In her seventeenth year she was be- 
trothed to an Italian physician, Bianconi, of Bologna, 
one of her father's students. The preparations had 
all been made for the marriage, when Bianconi sud- 
denly made a demand that the children should all be 
brought up in the Roman Church, instead of the 
daughters following the mother and the sons the 
father, as was then customary in mixed marriages. 
This was too much for Dr. Gutermann, a zealous 
Protestant, to whom the difference of religion had* 
always seemed an obstacle. He burst into a great 
rage, forbade Bianconi his house, and declared the 
whole matter at an end. Sophie, although heart- 



Sophie de la Roche, yy 

broken, refused to marry without her father's con- 
sent, and Bianconi returned to Bologna, let us hope, 
a wiser man. 

After this Sophie was sent to her grandparents at 
Biberach, and on the death of her grandfather re- 
moved to the house of Pastor Wieland, whose wife 
was her father's cousin. In the summer the pastor's 
son, the afterward so celebrated poet, came home 
for his vacation. They fell in love with each other, 
whereupon Dr. Gutermann sends for his daughter to 
return home, where he and the step-mother, who in 
the mean time has been brought into the family, daily 
repeat to her that she must get married. Under these 
circumstances, as a marriage was impossible with 
Wieland, the son of a poor country pastor, and but 
seventeen years of age, she accepts the hand of Hof- 
rath de la Roche, who, so far from being daunted by 
the explicit avowal of her disappointments, is only 
the more incited to rescue her from her unhappy sit- 
uation. 

Madame de la Roche became one of the leading 
writers in the sentimental school then prevailing. 
She was lavish of emotion in her writings, but in her 
treatment of her daughters she seemed not unlike 
her father. We would gladly find some explanation 
or palliation of her inconsistency, which is a frequent 
subject of jest in the letters of the Frau Rath and of 
the Duchess Amalia, but her biographers do not 
suggest for her any excuses. 

Her first novel had a great success, passing 
through nine editions ; two French translations ap- 
pared, and two English ones, with the title, " Me- 
moirs of Miss Sophie Sternheim." 



yS Goethe s Mother. 

In 1786 she made a journey to England, where she 
was taken to see Miss Burney, who was at that time 
wearing herself out in the service of Queen Charlotte. 
Miss Burney gives of her in her Diary a striking pic- 
ture. The scene is in her best manner, but we are 
concerned only with the part relating to Wieland. 
<4 She is now bien passe'e," writes Miss Burney, " yet 
has a voice of touching sweetness, eyes of dove-like 
gentleness, looks supplicating for favor, and an air 
and demeanor the most tenderly caressing. I can 
suppose she has thought herself, all her life, the 
model of the favorite heroine of her own favorite 
romance, and I can readily believe that she had at- 
tractions, in her youth, nothing short of fascinating." 
Madame la Fite announced that her friend had had 
the most extraordinary life and adventures that had 
fallen to anybody's lot. Madame La Roche replied 
that they were, in their early part, so connected with 
M. Wieland, the famous author, that they would not 
be intelligible without his story. 

" Eh bien ! Ma tres-chere, contez nous done nn pen 
de ses aventnres ; ma chere Miss Burney, e'e'toit son 
amant et Vhomme fa plus extraordinaire — d'un genie / 
d'unfeu I Eh bien, ma chere ? ou V avez-vous rencontre"? 
oit est-ce quit a commence a vous aimer ? contez-nous 
un pen de tout ca. ' ' 

" Madame La Roche, looking down upon her fan, 
then began the recital. She related their first inter- 
view, the gradations of their mutual attachment, his 
extraordinary talents, his literary fame and name ; 
the breach of their union from motives of prudence 
in their friends ; his change of character from piety 
to voluptuousness, in consoling himself for her loss 



Fraulein von Gochhausen to Frau Rath, 79 

with an actress ; his various adventures, and various 
transformations from good to bad, in life and con- 
duct ; her own marriage with M. de la Roche, their 
subsequent meeting, when she was mother of three 
children, and all the attendant circumstances. 

" This narrative was told in so touching and pa- 
thetic a manner, and interspersed with so many sen- 
timents of tenderness and of heroism, that I could 
scarcely believe I was not actually listening to a 
Clelia or a Cassandra recounting the stories of her 
youth." 

26. Fraulein von Gochhausen to Frau Rath. 

Weimar, the 12th April, 1779. 
Good, dear, darling Mother : It seems to 
me very long since I have written to you, and still 
longer since I saw a letter from you, except, now 
and then, whatever good souls, like the Duchess and 
Wieland let me see, out of compassion. This mis- 
fortune is the fault solely and alone of a very unwel- 
come and tedious illness, which sorely plagued me, 
and sometimes even made me think the tender body 
would no longer contain the mighty spirit. And as 
this seemed to me very inopportune, there smoked 
sacrifices and burnt-offerings to the stern goddess 
Hygeia ; and she had compassion upon my weak- 
ness, and I now wander on again in peace and joy, 
and express my thanks by my enjoyment of the 
lovely, heart-quickening spring. A whole page 
about nothing but my own insignificant self : attrib- 
ute it to the weakness which still remains, and for- 
give in love. 



So Goethe s Mother. 

I surely trust that the Herr Doctor, in accordance 
with his duty, has sent or is sending his admirable 
Iphigenia. I will therefore refrain from all chat 
about it, and only say this much, that he played his 
Orestes in a masterly manner. His costume, as 
well as that of Pylades, was Greek, and I have never 
before in my life seen him so handsome. Alto- 
gether the whole piece was so well played that the 
King and Queen might have said, "Dear lion, roar 
again !" 

To-day it is to be performed again, and as heartily 
as I rejoice in the thought of it, yet believe me 
that I should be delighted if I could give my place 
to the mother's heart. 

We are expecting now soon our good Merck. We 
all, you may be sure, rejoice heartily at the thought 
of it. The Duchess has written him that all the 
roasting-jacks are being examined, in order, from that 
quarter, at least, to give no treat to his critical nose. 

As for you, dear mother, we can see you in no 
other way except that we must come again to Frank- 
fort.* Well, I swear by nothing, mountain or val- 
ley, etc., only do not be frightened if, some time, a 
post-chaise and six should stop before your door ! 

Our dear Princess greets father and mother a 
thousand times, and I live and die my Frau Aja's 
faithful 

Thusnelde. 



* The proposed visit of the Frau Rath to Weimar with Merck, 
so often alluded to in the preceding letters, did not take place ; 
probably the Herr Rath's state of health not admitting of his wife's 
absence. 



Duchess Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 81 



27. Duchess Anna Amalia to Fran Rath. 

Weimar, the 21st April, '79. 

Dear, best Mother : I am in possession of two 
of your dear letters, and two boxes of biscuit which 
came with them, for which I send you many thanks. 

The intelligence you communicate to me in regard 
to the marriage of the La Roche's youngest daugh- 
ter is so amazing that the senses stand still. I sent 
your letter to Doctor Wolff ; but as court-life has 
made him very well-behaved, he did not gnash his 
teeth, and still less swore, but shrugged his shoul- 
ders over the lamentable adventure. We are all 
curious to know the name of the man whose victim 
the poor Louise is to become. In this case the 
proverb speaks truly : Do as I say, not as I do ; for 
her * emotions as set down in black and white are far 
distant from her heart. 

The holiday passed over successfully, of which 
Thusnelde has given you an account. Shortly after 
it f was repeated, and with the same applause. I 
think he will send you the entire piece, and then you 
will see for yourself how beautiful and admirable it 
is, and how very worthy of him. You would be 
glad to know, dear mother, who made my silhou- 
ette ? It was your Herr Sohn who drew it in the 
large, and his faithful Philip who manufactured it in 
the small : this is the whole riddle. Toward the end 
of May I think Merck will be here ; he is to stay 
with me in Ettersburg. Ah ! mother, mother, you 

* Viz., Frau La Roche's. \ "Iphigenia." 



82 Goethe s Mother. 

doubtless guess my thoughts.* How is the old 
father ? He is said not to be well ; greet him from 
me, and that a thousand times. Farewell, best 
mother ; hold me dear, and think frequently of your 
friend Amelie. 



28. Franlein von Gbchhausen to Frau Rath. 

Weimar, the 21st May. 

Your letter and dear interest in my being still on 
this beautiful, newly adorned earth rejoiced my 
heart and soul. Certainly, dear mother, you have 
already contributed very much to the joy and de- 
light of my life, and I am certainly thankful for it ; 
and had you even done me no further favor, it would 
be already enough to make this earth dearer, when 
one knows that one walks about on it with such a 
hearty, excellent woman as you are. 

Iphigenia must have come at last. I at least 
have daily admonished the Doctor and Philip about 
it, and, as far as I know, it has already long ago set 
out on its journey. It will be a blessed day when 
you sit there together and enjoy yourselves over it. 
But let the Doctor's health be drunk at the same 
time in the best and oldest wine. He and his Iphi- 
genia surely deserve it. 

We have now been a week, with sack and pack, 
again in our dear Ettersburg. It is, Heaven knows, 
a beautiful life, thus to live amid wood, mountain, 
and vale ! Our dearest Duchess is here also, well 



* Her disappointment that the Frau Rath was not coming with 
Merck (?). 



Fr'dulein von Gochhausen to Frau Rath. 83 

and happy. God keep her so : she deserves it so 
much ! 

Yesterday the Hr. Geh. Leg. Rath * had per- 
formed for us here a drama, Die Launen der Ver- 
licbten, which he says he wrote in his eighteenth 
year, and has made but few changes in it. It is com- 
posed of only four persons, who were represented 
by the Doctor, Einsiedel, Mile. v. Woelwarth, and 
Mile. Schroeder. It is in one act, with a few airs 
which Kammerherr (Chamberlain) Seckendorff has 
composed. It was very well played indeed, and we 
were the whole day merry and in good spirits. 

We are now living in constant expectation of our 
Merck. We think of him when we awake and when 
we go to sleep ; and when it rains or the wind blows 
a little stronger, you should hear the lamentation ! 
Poor Merck ! now perhaps he will be wet ! The 
wind will make riding on his horse disagreeable to 
him ! And if the sun shines, it doubly rejoices us on 
his account. So it goes all day long. If he would 
only come very soon ! The Doctor rides to Erfurt to 
meet him. Good old Wieland is now out here with 
us on our mountain ; he greets his heartily beloved 
Frau Aja with his whole soul ! 

The painter May is now painting in Weimar, and 
has already produced a whole multitude of faces. 
Hatschelhans f has also had himself painted. I 
have not yet seen it, but it is said to be good.;}: 

Our Duchess greets heartily father and mother. 

* Viz., Herr Geheimer Legations Rath, Goethe, 
f See letter No. 20, note. 

% An engraving from this portrait is given in Lewes' " Life of 
Goethe," vol. 1, first edition. 



84 Goethe s Mother. 

Krauss has now all sorts of things to do, but will per- 
haps soon let something be heard and seen from him. 

To the father, my fairest greeting ! and for you, 
dearest woman, my best kiss from your 

Forever faithful 

Excuse the blots ! ! ! Louise G. 

(Postscripts from Wieland and the Duchess.) 

Dear little mother, we are here with your and our 
Duchess, the sole Queen forever of our free hearts, 
on the lofty Ettersburg. 

Und Leben da, feme vom Erdengetiimmel, 
Das seelige Leben der Gotter im Himmel ;* 

except that it is d — d foul, unfriendly weather. Ay ! 
were but Mother Aja also with us ! For Merck we 
wait as a dry land for rain, Sela ! Yesterday, a little 
drama of brother Wolff's first grov/th made me twenty- 
five years younger. For you know, surely, that we 
have a little theatre here in Ettersburg, as pretty as, 
you can fancy ; and that we here — but why should I 
gossip to you of all our joys ? It only makes your 
heart heavy. Ade, f dear mother, with my best 
compliments to the dear good papa ! Hold in good 
remembrance your son, WlELAND. 

Dear mother, I and my donkeys are here too. :f 

Amelie. 

* And are living here far from the tumults of earth, the blissful 
life of the gods in heaven. 

f Adieu. 

^"Liebe Mutter, ich und meine Esel sind auch da." (Jahr- 
markt zu Plundersweilern.) 



Wieland to Merck. 85 

In connection with May's portrait of Goethe there 
is the interesting circumstance that Wieland read to 
him during the sitting the first half of "Oberon," 
upon which he was engaged. 

Wieland thus describes it, in his enthusiastic way, 
in a letter to Merck, dated at Weimar, August 1st, 
1779: 

' The past week I had a very good day with 
Goethe. He and I have had to make up our minds 
to sit to Rath May, who, ex voto the Duchess of 
Wiirtemburg, was to take our portraits for her Serene 
Highness. Goethe sat morning and afternoon, and 
begged me, as Sercnissimus* was absent, to keep 
him company during this tiresome sitting, and for 
mental entertainment to read ' Oberon ' to him. By 
good fortune it so happened that on that day this 
man, who is almost always in a fume, was in his best 
and most receptive mood, and as easily amused as a 
girl of sixteen. In all the days of my life I have 
never seen any one so pleased with the work of 
another as he was with ' Oberon,' throughout, and 
particularly with the 5th canto, in which Huon 
acquits himself of the imperial mandate. It was a 
true jonis sauce for me, as thou canst readily think. 
A few days after he acknowledged to me himself 
that perhaps in three years he might not come again 
into such a degree of receptivity and openness of 
every sense for an opus hujus furfuris et farince." 

That Wieland does not exaggerate here we know 
from what Goethe later on wrote to Lavater : 

* The Duke. 



86 Goethe s Mother. 

" As long as poetry remains poetry, gold gold, and 
crystal crystal, his ' Oberon ' will be beloved and ad- 
mired as a masterpiece of the poetic art." (Goethe 
to Lavater, July 3d, 1780.) 

29. Duchess Anna Amalia to Merck. 

Ettersburg, the 2d Aug., '79- 
Your letter, L. M.,* the diary, to Thusnelda, of 
your journey, was received, opened, and read (to 
speak like Frau Aja) with a great shout of joy. L. M. , 
you cannot think how infinitely you have obliged 
me, that after all your fatigues and adventures you 
have nevertheless taken your pen to show us that 
you think of Ettersburg. I feel it, yet not a la 
Roche ; it lies deeper in my heart. You have seen 
the dear Sophie ! f Spoken with her ! O Merck, 
Merck ! a sentimental journey ! What, then, were 
my Marshal's J feelings on seeing her? Was he not 
quite Yorick ? Did not his sorrel horse appear to 
him in that moment as the unlucky Desobligeant 
appeared to the latter ? 

30. Goethe to his Mother. 

My desire to see you once more has up to this 
time been held in check by the circumstances which 
made my presence here more or less necessary. But 
now an opportunity may present itself, in regard to 
which, however, I must, before all, ask for the strict- 

* Lieber Merck. f Madame La Roche. 

X Hofmarschall Einsiedel, who accompanied Merck. 



Goethe to his Mother, 87 

est secrecy. The Duke has a fancy to enjoy the 
beautiful autumn . on the Rhine. He wishes that I 
should go with him, and Kammerhr * Wedel, and 
that we should alight at your house ; but, in order 
to avoid the friends at the fair, remain a few days 
only, and then continue on by water. Afterward 
he proposes that we should return and take up 
our abode with you, so as from thence to visit the 
neighborhood. Whether you take this prosaically 
or poetically, it is really the dot on the i of your 
whole past life, and for the first time I return to my 
home well and happy, and with all possible honor. 
But as I should like, since the wine has turned out 
so well on the mountains of Samaria,')' that there 

* Kammerherr (Chamberlain). 

f " Since the wine has turned out so well on the mountains of 
Samaria." This is an allusion to a passage in the Bible which 
was of great comfort to Goethe's mother, at a time when her son 
was dangerously ill. The Frau Rath was accustomed (as was very- 
common in her day, and is not uncommon in ours) to resort in 
times of anxiety to the Bible, and to take as an oracular message 
the first passage which should meet her eye on opening it. Goethe 
thus writes to Frau von Stein, on the gth of Dec, 1777 : " It is just 
about this time, a few days more or less, that I, nine years ago, 
was ill unto death. My mother then, in the exceeding need of 
her heart, opened her Bible, and found, as she afterward told me, 
this passage : ' Man wird wiederum Weinberge pfianzen an den 
Bergen Samaria, pfianzen wird man und dazu pfeifen.' (They shall 
again plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria ; they shall 
plant and pipe thereto.)" The Frau Rath interpreted this as an 
assurance of her son's recovery. We give a literal translation of it 
from the German, as, in the English version (Jeremiah 31 : 5), 
there is nothing said of piping, without which Goethe's allusion 
would be unintelligible. 

In regard to the preceding letter Dunzer remarks: "Seldom 
indeed has to so loving a mother such happiness been granted as 
this letter must have brought to Frau Aja. Her belief in her 



88 Goethe's Mother. 

should be piping also, I will hope for nothing less 
than that you and my father should have open and 
feeling hearts to receive us, and to thank God, who 
in such a manner lets you see your son again, in his 
thirtieth year. As I have withstood all temptation 
to slip away from here, and to surprise you, I wish 
to enjoy this journey fully to my heart's content. 
The impossible I do not expect. God has not 
willed that my father should enjoy the fruits so 
ardently longed for, which are now ripe ; He has 
taken his appetite from him, and so it must be. I 
will gladly ask nothing from that quarter but what- 
ever demeanor the humor of the moment may sug- 
gest to him.* But you I would see right joyous, 
and would wish you such a good day as you have 
never yet known. I have everything that a man can 
desire — a life in which I daily educate myself, and 
daily grow — and I come this time well, without pas- 
sion, without perplexity, without vain stirring, but 
like one beloved of God, who has passed the half of 
his days, and hopes out of past sorrow much good 
for the future; and has also proved his heart for 
future sorrow. If I find you happy I shall return 
with joy to the labor and toil of the day which await 
me. Answer me immediately* in full. We come, at 
all events, in the middle of September ; the details 



Wolfgang and his destiny had not been brought to nought ; he 
who had left his native city in the perplexity of passion had man- 
fully fought through it at Weimar, where he was blessed with the 
love and honor of the best and noblest, and he had ripened to true 
repose of soul without forfeiting the bold spirit and the fresh glow 
of youth." (Diinzer. Frauenbilder aus Goethe's Jugendzeit.) 
* The Herr Rath had become much broken in mind. 



Goethe to his Mother. 89 

you shall know, down to the smallest particular, as 
soon as I have a reply to this. But inviolable 
secrecy, for the present, toward my father, Merck, 
etc. Our arrival must be a surprise to all ; I de- 
pend upon this. No one here yet suspects anything 
of it. The 9th Aug., 1779. G. 

How I have planned our quarters, and what we 
need, etc., shall all follow in my next letter, when 
you have first written me your ideas. 



31. Goethe to his Mother. 

Such a reply I wished from you, dear mother. I 
hope it will all prove very pleasant and delightful. 
So, then, more particular information of our coming. 
We are to arrive about the middle of September, and 
remain with you a few days, very quietly. For, as 
the Duke does not wish to see his aunts and cousins 
who will be at the fair, we shall go right on, and float 
down the Main and Rhine. When we have com- 
pleted our tour we come back and take up in forma 
our quarters with you. I shall then call to mind all 
my friends and acquaintances, and the Duke will go 
to Darmstadt,* and visit a few of the nobility in the 
neighborhood. Our quarters will be arranged as fol- 
lows : For the Duke, a bed will be made in the little 
room, and the organ, if it still stands there, moved 
out. The large room remains for visitors and as an 
entrance to his apartments. He sleeps on a clean 
sack of straw, over which is spread a fine linen sheet 



* Viz., to see his aunts and cousins. 



90 Goethe s Mother. 

under a light coverlet. The chimney-room will be 
prepared for his servants, a mattress-bed placed in it. 

For Herr v. Wedel the back gray room will be 
made ready, also a mattress-bed, etc. 

For me, above, in my old rooms, also a sack of 
straw, etc., as for the Duke. 

As to eating, you will prepare dinner for four, no 
more nor less, no cookery but your domestic chefs- 
d'oeuvre, in the best manner ; whatever fruit you can 
procure mornings will be well. 

It reduces itself, therefore, to this, that the first 
time we come, we surprise every one, and a few days 
will pass by before we are noticed ; in fair-time this 
is easy. Take all the lustres out of the Duke's 
rooms. They would look ridiculous to him. The 
wall-candlesticks you can leave. In other respects, 
everything neat, as usual, and the less ceremony ap- 
parent the better. It must seem to you as if we had 
thus lived with you ten years. For servants pro- 
vide one or two beds up under the roof, where our 
people are. Your silver place out for the Duke's use, 
hand-basin, candlesticks, etc. He drinks no coffee 
or anything of the kind. Wedel will please you very 
much ; he is better than any you have yet seen of us 
men. 

So, then, still a deep silence, for as yet not a soul 
here knows a word. Write me whatever occurs to 
you. I will reply to everything, that all may be 
thoroughly prepared. 

Merck is not yet to know anything. 

(The above letter is without date, but assigned by Dr. Keil, 
from its contents, to August, 1779.) 




iyv? 



Catharine Elizabeth Goethe. 
From Dr. Dorow's " Remim'scenzen. 



The Dukes Visit. 91 

This visit took place on the 30th September, 1779. 
Goethe writes from Frankfort to Frau von Stein : 

" We arrived here on a most beautiful evening, and 
were received by many friendly faces. My father I 
find changed ; he is quieter, and his memory fails ; 
my mother has all her former energy and love." 

In the Merck correspondence there are also sev- 
eral allusions to the journey. 

Fraulein von Gochhausen writes : 

" Long letters have come from Frau Aja about the 
visit to Frankfort, and all of them show her to be 
in a very rose-colored mood, in which may Heaven 
long maintain her. The old gentleman's appearance, 
which you set forth with a few touches in so master- 
ly a manner, highly delighted me. It must have 
mightily pleased him that his son, the Privy 
Councillor, showed the Duke in Frankfort." 

Madame La Roche writes : - 

" May their journey be as fortunate as the plan 
of it is sensible and natural. The amazement * of 
everybody — nobles, merchants, and landlords — is 
certainly very great, for we have actually reached that 
point where the simplest thing causes more aston- 
ishment than the most inexplicable caprice. . . . 
I grant Frau Aja with all my heart the inward satis- 
faction which this visit must give her. Mothers' 
joys are among the sweetest on earth, and I may 
well say that there is, perhaps, no mother living who 
so fully deserves these joys as Frau Gothe. " 

*Viz., at seeing a Duke staying at the house of a simple 
citizen. 



92 Goethe s Mother. 

32. Carl August, Duke of Sax e- Weimar, to Frau Rath. 

Basle, the 2d Oct,, 1779. 
With the month of October we entered Switzer- 
land. . . . We came over and saw the beautiful 
plain about Basle, the Rhine, and the lofty moun- 
tains in the distance. I write this to you, dear Frau 
Aja, to show that we have come thus far from 
Frankfort well, and looking well. The strengthening 
effect of your old wine, and especially the very ad- 
mirable influence of your never-to-be-forgotten roast 
venison, have rendered us excellent aid on our 
knightly expedition. Your good and friendly recep- 
tion, and your care for us in Frankfort, have given us 
fully the necessary endurance, and restored the lost 
strength. Believe, indeed, dear Frau Rathin, that I 
am and ever shall be very grateful for the great kind- 
ness which you and the Herr Rath have had for us. 
Believe also, and this without all doubt, that I value 
and love you as much as any one. Commend me to 
the Herr Rath, and keep well, that on our return we 
may have the same pleasure in you. Adieu. 

Carl August. 

33. Wieland to Frau Rath. 

Dear Mother : Two words only with the Mercury 
which comes herewith — namely, 1000 thanks for the 
frequent proofs of your good and affectionate remem- 
brance, and aviso that all you have given me up to 
this time, for my lady Duchess Mother has been 
rightly delivered. To-morrow the wall-candlesticks 
also will probably arrive. 

Our dear wanderers are probably now with you 



Wieland to Frau Rath. 93 

again, and are resting from their labors. I look for 
its doing us much good to see them again. They 
have made a beautiful excursion, and good angels 
have been with them, and have, as we hear, driven 
all the elements before them. We have often been 
uneasy here on their account, while they on their 
Alps had the best weather one could desire. Alto- 
gether, we know nothing here of all the lauded 
splendors of the present autumn in' your neighbor- 
hood ; since the middle of October, or rather since 
the beginning of it, we live almost continually in an 
atmosphere of clouds, fogs, rain, and wind. 

" Oberon," meantime, advances on his way, and it 
must fare ill if, on next Shrove Tuesday evening at 
precisely eight o'clock, I should not have done with 
the last stanza of the fourteenth and last canto. 
Pray diligently for me in the mean time, dear 
mother, that the end may succeed with me as well 
as the middle and beginning. I shudder a little 
when I think that it needs only a single false step to 
break my neck on the way I am wandering. Yet, 

"Was Du mit Glauben und mit Muth 
Begonnen hast, das helf ich Dir vollenden."* 

Adieu, best little mother. I would give a finger 
from each hand if I could fly to you and read to 
you my X. cantos, which lie here before me. 

Farewell, and keep in good, warm remembrance, 
your 

Faithfully attached son, 

Wieland. 

* In Sotheby's translation it reads as follows : 

" What thou hast well begun thou well shalt end: 
Here Oberon presents himself thy friend." 



94 Goethe s Mother. 

All with me —wife, children, mother, in short, 
everything which has breath — is well, and praises the 
Lord and greets you. 

(The above letter is without date. Dr. Keil assigns it to Decem- 
ber, 1779.) 

34. Duke Carl A ugust to Frau Rath, 

Weimar, the 19th M. (arch), 1780. 
My well-beloved Commerzien Rath (Commercial 
Councillor) Paulsen wishes to let you see his face, 
and for this a letter to you from me must serve 
him \ thus I serve him, and he me. I cannot write 
you much, dear Frau Aja ; fine things that would 
sound well in some letters sound out of tune in 
mine. That I love and honor you, you know : I 
have therefore no need to say it ; but as the two 
words now stand here, let them so remain ; they 
mean all that could not be said in 3,000,000 words. 
Goethe, too, is well again, and better now, as it 
seems to me, than I have seen him for a long time. 
I supped with him last night, with a small com- 
pany. Your picture and the father's, by Melchior, 
parade in my mother's cabinet ; if yours were only 
better, that one might look at it more ! I have, up 
to date, been roving rapidly about in the neighbor- 
hood here ; it is nearly a week since I first began to 
be quiet. Goethe cultivates so much the more quiet, 
industry and work. If all were so easy to me as to 
him, I would gladly do what he does. His Swiss 
drama * will, I think, soon be brought out ; to-day 

* " Jery und Batel}'." 



Duchess Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 95 

there is a rehearsal of the music which von Secken- 
dorf has set to it. The new theatre will now soon be 
ready. Merck has written : it is spoken of as of some 
old tale which we are still glad to hear, but of which 
Ave see nothing but the records ; that is, he does not 
write at all any more. I know not why. But 
greet the old fellow, dear Frau Aja, and challenge 
him formally. Give him a couple of bottles of 19 * 
to drink at your house, in the yellow room, to the 
health of the old company ; he has it indeed for 
nothing, as his old maxim runs, and perhaps it will 
arouse his spirit and make him fond of writing. 
Now farewell, best mother Aja, and greet the father. 
God keep you. 

Carl August, H. z. S. 

(Herzog zu Sachsen). 

35. Duchess Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 

Weimar, the 9th June, '81. 
It is long since I have written you, dear mother, and 
yet it is not forgetfulness or lack of that love which 
I have forever pledged to you. The few new events 
which have occurred here were not worth telling you, 
and in order not to be monotonous and to weary 
you, dearest woman, I the rather kept silence. 
My son Constantin, who will bring you this letter, 
can tell you by word of mouth all about how it is 
with us here. You will find in him, dear mother, a 
young man who is not yet quite fledged, f but his 
heart is good, and I hope the journey he is now set- 

* The year 19, 1719. f " Der noch nicht ganz fliigge ist." 



g6 Goethe's Mother. 

ting out on will make of him a good and useful man. 
The Legations-Rath Albrecht, who travels with him, 
has nothing pleasing in his exterior, as you will see 
yourself ; but, on the other hand, he is an upright 
and very intelligent man, who has already travelled 
much himself, and in whom my son has great confi- 
dence, as well as he again is much attached to Con- 
stantin ; so that I can in this respect be quite easy. 
Regard Constantin, dear mother, as the son of a 
mother who is, with her whole heart, yours, 

Amelie. 

36. Duchess Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 

TiEFURTH, the 13th July, '8i. 
What shall I write to you, dearest Frau Aja ? 
After you have been going about with Emperor, Arch- 
dukes, Princes, and devils of all sorts, * what can 
further interest you ? If I should tell you that I am 
living very happily here in the groves of Tiefurth, 
it would sound very small and insignificant in Frau 
Aja's ears ; I could also relate that the much-loved 
Herr Sohn Wolff is well and hearty, that he has 
been on a commission at Ilmenau, and has made, be- 
sides, all sorts of little excursions, and has returned 
happy and well ; but all this is too insignificant for 
you ; one must talk with you in the high FF.f But 
alas ! nothing happens here ; not a single outlandish 
animal comes through Weimar, let alone an Em- 
peror. Yet my heart tells me that Frau Aja, in the 

* Nachdem Sie mit Kaiser, Erbherzogen, Fiirsten und alien 
Teufeln sich herum getrieben haben." 
f Fortissimo. 



Goethe to his Mother. 97 

midst of all enjoyment, has remained Frau Aja ; that 
she, after all, has cast side glances full of love and 
friendship toward those afar off, and is, and forever 
will be, the dear good mother. Amen ! 

Fraulein Tusnelde sends you herewith 'a portfolio 
which she has made with her own noble hand ; and 
that I may not come quite empty-handed I send 
you, dear mother, a pair of garters which I, also, 
have manufactured myself. I hope, dear mother, that 
you will see, at least, from this, how frequently we 
think of you. 

Remain ever the dear mother, as I shall forever 

be 

Your true friend, 

AMELIE. 

The Emperor Joseph II. arrived in Frankfort on 
the 27th of May, 1781. Although he was travelling 
incognito, under the name of Count Falkenstein, the 
street before his hotel was constantly thronged with 
people hoping to catch a glimpse of this very popu- 
lar prince, and the excitement was general through- 
out Frankfort. The Emperor was at this time on a 
tour to the various German courts to select a wife 
for the heir apparent, the Archduke Franz. His 
choice fell upon Elisabeth, daughter of Duke Eugene, 
of Wirtemberg. 



37. Goethe to his Mother. 

The Devin du Village with Melchior's book came 
yesterday. Time and quiet has failed me as yet to 
reply to your previous dear letter. It gave me great 



98 Goethe s Mother. 

pleasure to see in it your old and well-known views 
again expressed, and to read them from your own 
hand. I beg you to be unconcerned on my account, 
and not to allow yourself to be perplexed by any- 
thing. My health is far better than I could pre- 
viously hope and expect ; and as it is adequate to 
enable me to do, for the most part, at least, what is 
incumbent on me. I have certainly cause to be con- 
tent with it. In regard to my position itself, it has, 
notwithstanding great difficulties, very much, also, 
that is desirable for me, of which the best proof is 
that I can think of no other possible one for which, 
at the present moment, I would change it. For, with 
hypochondriacal discontent, to wish one's self out of 
one's skin into another, is not, it seems to me, very 
befitting. Merck and others judge very falsely of my 
situation, They see only what I sacrifice, and not 
what I gain ; and they cannot comprehend that I 
grow daily richer while I daily give up so much. 
You remember the last period I passed with you be- 
fore I came here ; in such a continued state of 
things I should have gone to ruin. The dispropor- 
tion of a narrow and slowly moving burgher-circle 
to the breadth and great mobility of my nature 
would have driven me mad. With my lively imagi- 
nation and previous ideas of human affairs, I should 
yet have always remained unacquainted with the 
world, and in a perpetual childhood, which, mostly 
through self-conceit and all its kindred errors, is in- 
tolerable to itself and to others. How much more 
fortunate it was to see myself placed in a position 
to which I was in no direction equal, where I had 
ample opportunity, through many an error of mis- 



Goethe to his Mother. 99 

conception and haste, to become acquainted with 
myself and others ; where, left to myself and fate, 
I passed through so many trials, which to many hun- 
dreds of men might not have been necessary, but of 
which I had, for my development, the utmost need. 
And now still, how could I, in accordance with my 
nature, wish for a position more fortunate than one 
which has in it for me something infinite. For were 
there developed daily in me a new capacity, were my 
ideas constantly becoming clearer, my active powers 
augmenting, my knowledge extending itself, my 
powers of discrimination being perfected, and my 
spirit becoming more active, I should yet find daily 
opportunity to use all these qualities, now on the 
large scale, now on the small. You see how far I 
am from the hypochondriacal restlessness which sets 
so many men at variance with their circumstances, 
and that only the weightiest considerations or very 
strange and unexpected events could induce me to 
leave my post ; and it would be also unjustifiable 
to myself, if I — at a time when the trees which have 
been planted begin to grow, and when one can hope 
for the harvest to separate the tares from the wheat — 
if I, on account of some discomfort or other, should 
go away, and deprive myself of shade, fruit, and har- 
vest. Meantime, believe me that a great portion of 
the good cheer with which I endure and work 
springs from the thought that all these sacrifices are 
voluntary, and that I need only to order post-horses 
in order to come and find again with you the need- 
ful and agreeable of life. For without this prospect, 
and when, in hours of vexation, I am driven to re- 
gard myself as a bondman and day-laborer for the 



loo Goethe s Mother. 

mere necessities of life, many things would be much 
harder to me. But may I ever hear from you that 
your cheerfulness never forsakes you in my father's 
present condition. Continue to procure for yourself 
as much variety as the social life about you offers. 
It is not probable that I shall be able to leave here 
this autumn ; at all events, not before the end of 
September ; yet I shall try to be with you at vintage 
time. Write me, therefore, if it should, by. chance, 
fall earlier, owing to the favorable summer. 

Farewell. Greet my old, dear friends. 

Weimar, the nth Aug., 1781. G. 



There is a letter from Wieland to Merck, written 
some years before this, in which he expresses in his 
humorous way his attachment to Weimar. The 
passage reads as follows : 

Weimar, the 16th April, 1777. 
Dearest Friend : I cannot yet forgive myself or 
forget that I have neglected you the whole of the 
last month in so unfriendly a manner. Forgive me 
for it, for the sake of sweet Rosamond, about whom I 
have made, si diis placet, a very edifying vaudeville, 
alias opera, for his Electoral Highness of Mannheim. 
I had the thing in my head the whole of March, to 
such a degree that I could neither think of nor un- 
dertake anything else. You admonish me to profit 
by the favorable breeze which seems to be wafting 
me toward the Neckar, and to leave this rugged 
country where no wine grows, where the water is 
good for nothing, and Eurus and Boreas render eight 



Wieland to Merck. 101 

months of the year as unprofitable as possible. Yes, 
dear sir, if that were only as easy as to move from 
one street to another — pro prinw ; and if the devil 
were not everywhere at home, pro secundo ; and if. 
there were not a hundred against one to be wagered 
that I should jump out of the frying pan into the 
fire, pro tertio. Besides, I do not yet well know how 
far good will toward me extends in M., although I 
can promise myself everything that is possible on the 
part of Hompesch."* But granted they wished to 
have me, under what specie and quo titulo should I 
be ? And what temporal advantages would out- 
weigh the leisure, quiet, freedom, independence, 
esteem, affection, etc., which I enjoy here? It is 
true I count for but little here, and what I am in 
sensa politico is seven times less than what I count 
for. But I do not wish to be nor to count for any tiling, 
and precisely in this consists at least one third of 
my well-being. The princely personages here are, 
perhaps, the best in the whole world. They are all 
well disposed toward me, and none of them interfere 
with me ; they ask so little from me that I am well 
nigh ashamed to eat their bread, and they would do 
everything to please me. Their Serene Highnesses of 
Gotha have very nearly the same sentiments toward 
me ; and, besides, in the most disastrous event which 
might befall Weimar in the future, I can anticipate 
no cause of anxiety for myself. I sit tranquilly, there- 
fore, under the trees of my garden ; and would it 
not be hard that I should not eat the fruit of the no 
beautiful apple, pear, and cherry trees which I 

* Count Hompesch, Minister of State at Mannheim. 



102 Goethe s Mother. 

planted last autumn ? And now, hisce 

omnibus probe pensitatis, tell me frankly, should I not 
be greatly in the wrong to allow myself to be 
tempted by the garlic and onions of Egypt, or by 
singers and harp-players, or by fatter court-soups, or 
by the slight advantage of getting my wine two 
groschen cheaper, or by any other illusion of the flesh 
to leave my one-hundred-paces-long-and-fifty-paces- 
wide kingdom, paradise, elysium, or whatever I may 
please to call it — and solely because it lies in stupid 
Thuringia, and my cherries ripen only once in ten 
years. 

But, as I said, it has not yet got so far that it is 
necessary for me to transplant myself. Au con- 
traire, I am already, at the present date, on the 
way to quarrel pour toujours with the Palatinate. 
And can you guess why ? Are there not sins which 
a poet cannot forgive, either in this world or the 
next ? Now, only think ; those people plague and 
badger me to write them an opera, and just as I get 
it done, it comes out that to their best actress, an 
angel in youthful charms and voice, they have given 
leave of absence for a year, to go on a pilgrimage to 
Paris and London, to dance in the planets, and to 
do Heaven knows what, and that they have now no 
Rosamond, and my little piece which, by the aid of 
the fair nymph Danzy would, could, and should 
have produced the greatest effect, will now go to the 
dogs for want of an actress who looks like a Rosa- 
mond, and sings like one. And I shall not go mad 
over it, and shall be willing to have anything more 
to do with such people ? Farewell, then, forever, ye 
banks of my native Neckar ! I seat myself here on 



Frau Rath to Lavater. 103 

the banks of the little rippling Lotte, which flows 
not far from my garden, and make vain projects how 
I might make it flow through my garden ; and, if 
nothing comes of that, I will drink out of this self- 
same Lotte, forgetfulness of all operas and opera- 
nymphs, orchestras, courts, and Abderites * in the 
world — that will be more sensible ! E tanto basta. 



38. Frau Rath to Lavater. 

The 20th August, 178 1. 
Dear Son : A few missing copperplates to the 
fourth part of your " Fragments of Physiognomy" 
oblige me, my dear friend, to trouble you. Perhaps 
you can help me out with them, and then receive 
my best thanks. That all with you are well I have 
learned, to my heartfelt joy, from young Kayser. 
With us it is so-so. I, for my part, am, thank 
God, ever as I was, well, active, and in good humor ; 
but the poor Herr Rath has for a long time been 
very much on the decline. His mental powers, es- 
pecially, are entirely gone — memory, recollection, 
everything lost. The life he now leads is a true 
plant-life. Providence finds it even good to lead me 
through divers ways to the goal. That I suffer 
much therefrom I do not need to relate at length to 
a heart so full of feeling as yours, especially as I 
have no compensation in my children. All are in- 
deed far, far away from Frau Aja. I had flattered 
myself with the hope that my son would come to 



* Allusion to his novel " Die Abderiten" (the inhabitants of 
Abdera), a satire upon provincial manners. 



104 Goethe s Mother, 

the autumn-fair, but nothing will come of it, he has 
so many occupations, so much to do all at the same 
time- ; but as a slight amends he has written me a 
truly excellent letter.* I must now possess my soul 
about it in patience. For the present here are lam- 
entations enough. Keep me in good, loving remem- 
brance, as I shall not forget you my life long (al- 
though you have not deigned to honor my face by 
saying anything about it in your four great books). 
Greet all ! I am forever, 

Your faithful mother, 

C. E. Goethe. 

39. Duchess Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 

Weimar, the 23d 9bre, '8i. 

Dearest Frau Aja : I am able, with much pleas- 
ure, to announce to you that your beloved Hatchel- 
hanz has, in graciousness, resolved to hire a house in 
the town.f True, he will not move into it before 
Easter, because the lease of the present tenant runs 
until then ; meanwhile, dear mother, we have won 
half the battle, and it is good that it has got so far. 
I have also promised to procure him some furni- 
ture, because he is so very nice and good. You will 
accordingly have the kindness, dear mother, to send 
me some patterns of chintz for chairs and sofas, and, 
at the same time, the prices. 

Herr Gevatter % Vv^ieland is very proud of your 

* The preceding letter, No. 37. 

f Goethe had up to this time lived in his Gartenhaus. See 
Letter 3. 

% The titles Gevatter and Gevatterinn mean literally godfather 



Frdulein von Gochhausen to Frau Rath. 105 

loving remembrance : with great enthusiasm he cried 
out, That is a woman for me ! She is the ornament 
of her sex ! And I said Amen. He will send you a 
whole packet of Tiefurth journals. They are a little 
sport I made for myself this summer, and which has 
succeeded so well that it has been continued up to 
the present ; perhaps it will give you, too, a few 
pleasant hours. The authors are Hatchelhanz, Wie- 
land, Herder, Knebel, Kammerherr Seckendorff, 
and Einsiedel. The Frau R'athin's world-renowned 
connoisseurship will enable her easily to guess the 
pieces by each author. Farewell, and be happy, 
dear woman. 

Amelie. 

Our Wolff greets you a thousand times. He is 
very well, and good. 



40. Frdulein von Gochhausen to Frau Rath. 

Weimar, the 27th December, 1781. 
I am sure, dearest mother that you in your life have 
had many and varied joys ; but whether you know 
any such joy as you have given me on Christmas 
Day, at least I wish it you ! Your silhouette, so 
like ! of such an excellent, dear, beloved woman ! in 
such a costly, pretty and stylish setting ; and your 
letter — O your dear letter ! — could I only say how in- 

and godmother. We have not, however, substituted those terms 
for them, as godfather and godmother, in English, imply a fixed 
relation, and are not used as mere titles of affection and courtesy, 
as they seem to have been in Germany at the time of this corre- 
spondence. 



io6 Goethe s Mother. 

describably admirable the letter is ! Enough, dear- 
est mother : from all my exclamations there is, alas, 
nothing further to be learned than that I am half 
out of my wits with excessive joy. The first day 
Goethe had much to bear from me, for I almost ate 
him up. By monstrous good luck there was on that 
joyous day a grand dinner at the Duchess's, and 
nearly half the town was assembled. I could, there- 
fore, produce at once my splendid present (which 
will not so soon come off my so-called swan-like 
neck) ; and there was a questioning and a glancing 
at the beautiful novelty, and I was thoroughly wild, 
and people thought I must have had a gift of clear 
quicksilver.* 

Dearest woman, how shall I thank you ! how ever 
deserve so much goodness — so without all desert 
and worthiness on my part ! In return, I can, alas, 
do nothing, except to go on in my old jog-trot — 
love, honor, and obey you my life long. Amen ! 

L. GOCHHAUSEN. 

The Duchess greets you iooo times, but will give 
me no further commission — for example, in regard 
to the chintz — until I have come again entirely to my 
senses ; for which, if there is not soon some change, 
she will shortly have prayers said in the church. 

* This seems a strange expression ; but, at that time, when any- 
one showed a restless activity, they would say some one has given 
you quicksilver. 




Catharine Elizabeth Goethe, 
See Letter 107. 



Duchess Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 107 



41. Duchess Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 

TlEFURT, the 17th 8bre, '82. 

Since great minds — prophets,* geniuses, and the 
like — have been entertained by you, one gets to 
hear nothing more, good or bad, from Frau Aja : 
everything is dead from there hitherward ! Accord- 
ingly, I venture only from afar off to tap on the door 
of the blue-room, and ask how the Frau Rathin may 
be : whether, now and then, a side glance is still 
given toward distant friends. 

Should I come at an inopportune moment with 
my inquiries, and disturb you therewith in your 
meditations, pardon it on account of my longing to 
learn something of Frau Aja after so long a 
silence. 

I might write many fine things from here : among 
others, that the palace of Herr Geheim Rath von 
Goethe is being splendidly adorned without and 
within, and that it will be one of the handsomest in 
the town of Weimar ; but what does this concern you 
— you who, probably, are busied with many sublime 
thoughts, in comparison with which such worldly stuff 
is utter folly ? I therefore content myself with add- 
ing nothing further, except that I commend myself 
to your spiritual remembrance, and hope soon for a 
sign of it. 

Amelie. 



* The prophet was Lavater, who had visited Frankfort during 
the summer. 



io8 Goethe s Mother. 



42. Frau Rath to Duchess Anna Amalia. 

Frankfort on the Mayn, 22d Oct., 1782. 
Most Serene Princess : What to the weary 
wanderer a resting-place, to the thirsty a clear 
spring, and all that one might now go on to add 
thereto ; what poor mortals strengthens and re- 
freshes — such was the gracious remembrance of our 
dearest Princess ! Thou art not, consequently, yet 
fallen into oblivion : the dearest Princess thinks of 
thee still, asks after thy health. Thanks a thousand- 
fold for this be offered to your Serene Highness ! 
Your Serene Highness is so gracious as to ask what 
I am doing. Oh, by Jupiter, as little as possible, 
and that little heartily ill, besides. But how is it 
possible otherwise ? Solitary,* left entirely alone to 
myself : when the springs are turned aside or stopped 
up, the deepest well will become empty. I dig, it 
is true, after fresh ones ; but either they give no 
water or are turbid, which is, in either case, unpleas- 
ant. This noble allegory I might now continue on 
without end. I might say that in order not to die 
of thirst I am now drinking mineral water, which 
moreover belongs prop'erly only to the sick, etc. 
Certainly, many fine things might be brought in 
here ; but wit, wit ! — I look upon it always as . a 
draught of air ; it cools indeed, but one gets a stiff' 
neck from it. So, then, without all this idle talk, 
every pleasure that I now wish to enjoy I must seek 
for among strangers, out of my own house, for here 
it is as quiet and deserted as in a graveyard. For- 

* The Herr Rath died in May, 1782. 



Frau Rath to Duchess Anna Amalia. 109 

merly it was, indeed, wholly the contrary ; yet 
since throughout all nature nothing remains in its 
place, but goes around in ceaseless revolution, how 
could I make myself an exception to this ? No, Frau 
Aja has not such absurd ideas. Who will fret him- 
self because it is not always full moon, and because 
the sun does not warm us so much now as in July ? 
By only using well the present, and never thinking 
that it might be otherwise, thus one gets best 
through the world ; and the getting through is, after 
all (everything well considered), the chief thing. Your 
Serene Highness will be able to make out tolerably 
well from the above that Frau Aja is always still 
about the same Frau Aja ; retains her good hu- 
mor, and does everything to keep in good spirits ; 
also uses diligently the means which King Saul 
formerly found so approved against the evil enemy ; 
and thus, according to human appearances, there is, 
for a long while yet, no fear for the good woman. 
Especially as Herr Tabor (whom your Serene High- 
ness knows at least by name) has so magnificently 
provided for our amusement. The play for the 
whole winter ! there will be fiddling, there will be 
trumpeting. Ha ! I would like to see the devil who 
would have the courage to plague one with the 
blues : a single Sir John Falstaff puts him to rout : 
that was fun with the fat fellow. Christians and 
Jews all laughed away the gall from their hearts. 
This week we are to have Clavigo : all Frankfort is 
going — all the boxes are bespoken already — for an 
imperial city like this it is a great enjoyment. I 
have now humbly followed your Serene Highness's 
command — made a true and sincere report of my 



no Goethe s Mother. 

being and not being. I commend myself now to 
further grace and favor, and am forever, 
Most Serene Princess, 

Your most humbly and truly obedient 
Dienerin * (servant), 

Goethe. 



We cannot forbear adding a few lines from a letter 
of Goethe's, which seems conceived so thoroughly in 
his mother's spirit„ It was written during illness : 

' To-day we have the most beautiful weather in 
the world. I allow myself no murmuring. The sun 
will still shine brightly when we lie in the grave : 
why should it fret us that he performs his duty when 
we must keep room and bed?" (Goethe to Frau 
von Stein, 27th June, 1785.) 

43. Frau Rath to Lavater. 

Frankfort, the 5th January, 1783. 
DEAR SON : The inclosure do not open until you 
have read this epistle. There are silhouettes in it, 
in regard to which some persons would be glad to 
know your thoughts. If you do not find this advis- 
able, send it back unopened. I do not know where 
they come from, still less whom they represent ; 
yet they have been sent me by persons whom I 
could not refuse. Thus it happens to us when 
people know that such lights of the world are our 
friends. I stand in great consideration also 

* See note 1, Letter 21. 



Frau Rath to Johann Heinrich Merck. 1 1 1 

among your fellow-believers, truly without any merit 
or worthiness of mine ; yet what matters that? the 
moon, too, shines with borrowed light, and for all 
that I know of, no poet, from Klopstock to Neukirch, 
who has not be-sung and be-rhymed her. I thank 
you heartily for the book you have sent ; it gives me 
many a refreshing and pleasant hour, as indeed 
everything that comes from you. For this I assert, 
that of all whom I know (although there are many 
good men among them), no one stands so in favor 
in my heart as you. God's richest blessing for the 
New Year upon you and all belonging to you. Hold 
me dear, and believe that I am forever, 

Your true friend and faithful mother, 

Goethe. 



44. Frau Rath to Johann Heinrich Merck. 

The 21st Febr., 1783. 
WELL, Dear Son : You also will have shared in 
the great joy which now animates all Weimar.* I, 
for my part, was as if out of my wits. For, just 
think : not to know a word of the interesting situa- 
ton and all at once such joyful intelligence ! I 
can swear that for a long, long time I have not been 
so blissfully happy. But, L. Fr.,f why do you not 
send me the " Iphigenia?" Longer than four weeks 
ago I begged you for it. And also not a single 
word of reply ! I hope that you are not ill, as little 
that you have forgotten me. Let something be 

* The birth of a son to the Duke, February 2d, 1783. 
f Lieber Freund (dear friend). 



1 1 2 Goethe s Mother. 

heard from you soon, and it will heartily rejoice her 
who is and remains your true friend, 

C. E. Goethe. 



45. Frau Rath to Duchess Anna Amatia. 

The 1st March, 1783. 
Most Serene Princess : I am indeed a very 
happy and enviable woman, to stand in the recollec- 
tion and favor of an Amatia ! of a Princess who, in 
every respect, is truly a Princess ; who has shown to 
the world that she can govern ; who understands the 
great art of attracting all hearts ; who diffuses love 
and joy around her ; who, in one word, was born 
as a blessing to mankind. So, then, our dear Hered- 
itary Prince is well — a thousand thanks to God for it ! 
I should never forgive Wieland and my son if they 
did not, at this joyous event, ride lustily their Peg- 
asuses ; and I heartily long to see their productions. 
To be sure, it seems to me as if my son had quar- 
relled with the Muses about something ; yet old love 
never rusts : they will, at his call, be soon again at 
hand. With Wieland it is indeed far otherwise : he 
is an ever-constant lover. The nine maidens may 
laugh or look sour ; he accommodates himself to all 
their caprices ; and I know, from a trusty source, 
that anything of thiskind'these ladies take extremely 
well. Your Serene Highness is so gracious as to 
inquire how I am. I am very well, thank God ; hap- 
py and light of heart, and seek to make my little bit 
of life as agreeable as possible. Yet I do not like 
any pleasure that is attended with disquietude, con- 
fusion, and fatigue ; for quiet I loved at all times, and 



Frau Rath to Duchess Anna Amalia. 113 

to my body I pay very willingly the honor due. In 
the morning I attend to my small housekeeping 
and other matters ; letters also are then written — 
such a ridiculous correspondence no one could easily 
have, except me. Every month I put my writing- 
desk in order, but I can never do it without laughing. 
It resembles heaven inside of it. All distinctions 
of rank abolished — high and low, righteous and 
publicans and sinners all in a heap. A letter from 
the pious Lavater lies quite without ill-will beside 
one from the player Grossmann, etc. 

In the afternoon my friends have permission to 
come and see me ; but by four o'clock they must all 
be gone, for then I dress myself, go either to the play 
or make visits, and come home about nine o'clock. 
This is now about what I do. Yet the best I had 
nearly forgotten ! I live in the long streets which 
have been built for readers," etc. 

May your Serene Highness be content with the 
description of my insignificant way of life, and keep 
for me your inestimable favor. This is the single 
request of 

Your Serene Highness's 
Most obedient and faithful servant (Dienerin), 

Goethe. 

* Allusion to Goethe's " Das Neueste von Plundersweilern" : 
" Besonders eine der langsten Gassen 
Hat man fur Leser erbauen lassen, 
Wo in den Hausern, eng und weit, 
Gelesen wird zu jeder Zeit." 
•'And especially one of the longest streets has been built for 
readers, where reading goes on at all hours, in houses large and 
small." 



114 Goethe s Mother'. 

46. Fran Rath to Duchess A nna A malia. 

Most Serene Princess : The evidence, by let- 
ter, that your Serene Highness still continually fa- 
vors me with your gracious remembrance delighted 
me above all expression. In the midst of the great 
world, in the circle of her lofty and noble kindred, 
amid the enjoyment of the most exquisite pleasures, 
our dearest Princess thinks of Frau Aja, who is living 
along so entirely by herself. Most gracious Prin- 
cess, my whole desire, demand, and wish tend 
solely to this : to make myself in something only 
worthy of this great favor. But what else can such a 
woman as I do, except to return thanks out of the 
fulness of her heart, and most humbly to solicit the 
continuance of such gracious favor. In the full be- 
lief that this request will find a favorable hearing, I 
will, in joyous mood, and with a happy heart, re- 
late and report, in the most faithful and best manner 
possible to me, what your Serene Highness desires 
to know. Surely the good God will not let me sink 
so low as to write for a journal. No, no ! God 
forbid ! Thank Heaven, I know better how to 
drive awaj^ ennui, and to live happily through my 
days without lowering myself. I should have known 
nothing at all of the whole silly trash had not Frau 
Max Brentano sent me the prospectus. I should 
take the whole thing for a satire were it not dedi- 
cated to the Princess Elisabeth, and had not all the 
post-offices been plagued with it. We have here a few 
such poor wretches whom the Evil One and their 
stomachs have probably led astray into such scrib- 
bling. This is all I know of this charming rarity. 



Frau Rath to Duchess Anna Amalia. 115 

That my son pleased the most Serene Duke of Bruns- 
wick touched very softly my motherly heart. It 
fares with me well nigh as with the old knight whom 
Geron der Adeliche came upon in a cavern, who lived 
solely by this, that the spirits brought him so much 
good news of his grandson Hector.* What life- 
balsam I have again received just during the pres- 
ent fair ! Now God be forever glorified therefor ! 
Your Serene Highness has the kindness to ask me 
what I am doing, how I am. I am going on, ever 
in the old way — well, happy, cheerful, and joyous, 
especially in this splendid autumn and glorious 
weather. On the 3d was the great Bacchus festival. 
That was a jubilation and merriment, and shouting ! 
Grapes ! Such as in Canaan, and in overflow and 
abundance besides ; in my little vineyard far more 
than a butt. But there was also endless roast 
pork ! ! ! Philip f was so fortunate as to share in 
the whole pleasure, etc. 

From this account your Serene Highness can see 
that I am in excellent spirits. For the full measure 
of my happiness I beg from your Serene Highness, 
our dearest Princess, the continuance of your grace 
and favor toward one who is her life long, 
Most Serene Princess, 

Your most humble and most faithfully 
obedient Dienerin (servant), 

Goethe. 

Frankfort, the 5th October, 1783. 



* Allusion to Wieland's poem, Geron der Adelige: 
" What from time to time 

The spirits tell me of him is the food 

That will not let me die." 
f Goethe's servant, apparently on a visit at Frankfort. 



1 1 6 Goethe s Mother. 

47. Fran Rath to FriedricJi von Stein. 

FRANKFORT, the 9th January, 1784. 

Dear Son : Many thanks for your dear letter ; it 
gave me great pleasure. You are faring right well, 
then, with my son. Oh, that I can very well 
imagine. Goethe was ever a friend of good young 
people, and it gives me uncommon pleasure that as- 
sociating with him makes you happy. But the more 
you love him — and therefore, I am sure, would be 
unwilling to part from him — the more surely will you 
believe me when I tell you that my absence from 
him often causes me sad hours. You, my little 
friend, might now do a great and good work ; espe- 
cially as you love me it will certainly not be disagree- 
able to you. Listen, dear friend, to my proposition. 

Since you are constantly with my son, and conse- 
quently know more about him than any one else, 
how would it be if you were to keep a little diary, 
and send it to me every month. It need not, indeed, 
give you much trouble — only something in this way : 
" Yesterday Goethe was at the play ; in the evening 
invited out. To-day we had company," and so on. 
In this way I should live, as it were, among you, 
should rejoice in your joys, and absence would lose 
much of its unpleasantness. A little line written 
morning or evening would not give you much 
trouble, but would be indescribably grateful to me. 
Just reflect upon the matter ; I believe it may be 
done. 

When my son comes some time to Frankfort, you 
must come with him. There shall then be no lack of 
amusement ; at least, I would dispose everything 



Friedrich von Stein. 117 

for enjoyment. Now, some time or other this may 
take place. In the mean time hold me dear ; I 
promise you the same. Greet my son, and be as- 
sured that I am ever 

Your true friend and faithful mother, 

Elizabeth Goethe. 



There is a fragment of an autobiography by Von 
Stein, from which we gather some account of his 
relations with Goethe : 

11 My father," he says, " was Master of the Horse 
at the court of the Duke Carl August of Saxe-Wei- 
mar. Partly through the detentions and journeys 
connected with his service, and partly through his 
fondness for society, he was not much at home, and 
had no great influence over his children. He was in 
the habit of dining at the Duke's court, and he 
never supped, so that he was seldom to be seen. 
My mother was by birth a von Schardt, and sprang 
from the Scotch family Irving. She was almost al- 
ways at home, and gathered about her cheerful 
society, through which also entertainment was not 
lacking for us three children. My second brother, 
Ernst, became page to the Duke, and our mutual 
tutor, Kiistner, governor of the pages. I was sent 
with my brother, and there arose from this a some- 
what straggling mode of life, since I was so much 
left to myself ; and although I, on the one hand, 
learned in this way early to take care of myself, yet 
precision in my studies suffered very much. From 
the Duke's pages, whose society much delighted me, 
I learned many ill-habits. With all my heart, on the 



1 1 8 Goethe s Mother. 

contrary, I clung to my mother, and almost more 
still to Goethe, who at that time visited my parents' 
house almost daily, and met me with love, earnest- 
ness, and jest, as the occasion might demand ; so that 
I consider his behavior toward children as a model 
of its kind. At that time he took me with him on 
a journey to Dessau and Leipsic, by means of which 
I much enlarged my ideas. I was about nine years 
old when Goethe took me to himself into his house, 
which I may call the happiest period of my youth. I 
endeavored by my exertions to deserve the love with 
which he fulfilled my various little wishes. By dicta- 
tion he endeavored to improve my imperfect hand- 
writing, and, to give practice to my readiness in reck- 
oning, gave over to me his housekeeping books and 
accounts to keep. I made several little journeys 
with him, especially to Ilmenau and the county of 
Henneberg, where he had the direction of a mine, 
which in the sequel failed, and about which he 
gladly and fully instructed me. This good fortune 
had only lasted two years when Goethe went on a 
journey to Carlsbad, and thence to Italy, without 
having confided it to any one except the Duke. I 
still remained almost a half year in his house, be- 
cause his return was continually expected, but at 
length returned to my parents, as it was too lonely 
for me in his house." 

48. Fran Rath to Friedricli vo?i Stein. 

Fr., the 1 2th Februar., 1784. 
Dear SON : That is very good indeed that you 
have so kept your word. The diary is just right, and 



Duchess Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 1 19 

has exceedingly rejoiced me. Do me the favor to 
send every month such a description of your life and 
occupations : the separation from my son will be, 
by this means, infinitely easier to me, because I shall 
in spirit enjoy with you all that is done in Weimar. 
I beg you continue on in the same way, and you 
shall be my dear, dear son. The drawing of your 
room came in good order ; it lies on my work-table, 
and, in thought, I am very often with you. There 
is not much new here that would interest you. We 
have the play this winter only every Tuesday. The 
players are in Mainz, and snow and ice render the 
roads exceedingly bad. Greet my son many times, 
and believe that I am evermore 

Your faithful mother, 

E. Goethe. 



49. Duchess Anna Amalia to Frau Rath. 

Weimar, the 22d Febr., 84. 
Dear Mother : He who comes slowly, still 
comes.* I wanted to give myself the pleasure to 
send you, dear Frau Aja, for the 19 Febr.,f some 
pretty work made in Weimar, but, unfortunately, it 
is but just now done ; yet receive it, even now, with 
love, just I send it. to you with a friendly heart, to- 
gether with my best wishes for the continuance for 
long years of the best and fairest happiness. In re- 
gard to the money-purse, which was made by my 
own hand, you will, I hope, kindly overlook its de- 

* " Wer langsam koramt, komrat audi." Fair and softly goes far. 
f The Frau Rath's birthday. 



120 Goethe s Mother. 

fects. A little picture, which lies in it, is to remind 
you, now and then* of a person who sincerely loves 
and values you. 

Our winter amusements are very good ; the theatri- 
cal company is not to be counted among the poor 
ones, and gives us many a pleasant evening. The 
snow still lies very deep here. How the earth looks 
is unknown to us, since it has been covered with a 
white mantle for two months, so that many people 
complain of pains in the eyes. 

How do you like, dear mother, the journeys in the 
air ?* Would that not be a pleasure, if Frau Aja 
could be transported in the air and sing at my house 
in Siefurth ? " aus Liiften hoch da komm ich her !" 
(From high in the air I come). What a joy would 
that be ! 

The Herr Sohn has gone to Ilmenau on mining 
affairs. They wish to seek for silver mines, and 
make Weimar rich thereby ; may God grant his bless- 
ing ! How did Wilhelm Meister please you ? It 
will, without doubt, be another masterpiece from 



* Montgolfier's balloons were then attracting universal atten- 
tion. Everybody was experimenting with the new discovery, and 
great was the delight when any one succeeded in sending up into 
the air one of the little bladders filled with gas, which are now so 
common as a toy for children. In this same month Wieland writes 
to Merck of a successful experiment of the Duke's, as follows: 

" This evening the Duke sent up in his mother's house for the 
first time cum successu, a little balloon made of a bladder. It flew 
to the ceiling, and endeavored to bore through, but as this was im- 
practicable, they, at length, showed it the way out at the door ; it 
flew up the staircase, and mounted to the garret. Hallelujah ! I 
did not see it myself, but it is said to have been very pretty to see, 
and the ladies and gentlemen of the Court enjoyed it greatly." 



Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 1 2 [ 

our Herr Wolff. There is life in it. He is a Pro- 
metheus who creates for himself his own little world. 
Adieu, dear mother, I kiss you a thousand times. 
Hold me dear, as I ever shall be yours, 

Amelie. 

50. Frau Rat J 1 to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 22d March, 1784. 
Dear Son : Your letter, •the description of the 
journey to Ilmenau, the printed speeches, the 
flowers, the sketches of the miners, and, altogether, 
everything that you have written me besides, has 
rejoiced me very much. No ; I have never yet had 
such a dear, diligent correspondent ; it will be a 
great pleasure to me if you will have the kindness 
thus to continue. The least occurrence which you 
report has more charm for me than anything else 
which may happen in the wide world. It is the 
truth that we have had here very high water ; that of 
1764 was a joke to it. Our city is divided into four- 
teen districts ; three remained exempt, the eleven 
others were in great distress. My cellar is now in the 
finest order again, and, thank God, there is not the 
least thing injured, and to show that my Oberon wine* 

* Allusion to Wieland's Oberon, II., 47, where Oberon gives 
wine to Scherasmin. 

" Und als er ihn auf einen Zug geleert, 
Ist's ihm, als ob mit wollustvoller Hitze 
Ein neuer Lebensgeist durch alle Adern blitze." 
In Sotheby's translation : 
" But when his breathless draught bad drained the bowl 
He feels, like lightning with forgotten heat, 
The dancing life blood in his arteries beat, 
And spirits gay reanimate his soul." 



122 Goethe s Mother. 

is still well preserved ; six flagons will shortly ar- 
rive at my son's. Your seal is very handsome, how 
glad I shall always be when it comes in my sight ! 
My fairest and best wishes to your dear mother, to 
my son, to Gevatter Wieland. But you, my dear 
son, continue to communicate to me good tidings 
from time to time, you will thereby much oblige her 
who is evermore 

My dear son's faithful mother, 

Elizabeth Goethe. 

5 1 . Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 30th March, 1784. 
DEAR Son : You cannot think how your sil- 
houette has delighted me. Now I can, at least, 
form an idea of my dear correspondent. I thank you 
for it very much. It would be very agreeable for 
me if you were to go with my son to Eisenach, for 
then I should also learn what may occur there, and 
I read your letters with great pleasure. I wish from 
my heart that the everlasting snow would cease for 
once, that you might enjoy yourself in your little 
garden ; with us it is still severe winter ; to-day 
hardly any one can go out of the house on account 
of the terrible snow and wind. A few days ago there 
went up in the air a small air-balloon two feet high, 
it was droll to see. For to-day, I must close, the 
post is going, and I am sorry to leave unanswered a 
letter from you, my dear son, but a little is always 
better than nothing ; be assured that I am unchange- 
ably 

Your faithful mother, 

Elizabeth Goethe. 



Frau Rath to Duchess Anna Amalia. 123 

52. Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., on the first Easter holiday, 1784. 
Dear Son : I wish very much that you were now 
with me. Day after to-morrow our play begins 
again, and, besides, an entirely new piece will be 
given, Kabale und Liebe, by Schiller, the author of 
The Robbers. Everybody wants to see it, and the 
house will be very full. My best thanks for your 
dear and very pleasant letter and for the weekly 
paper. It rejoices me very much that you are willing 
to begin the diary again, yet I by no means ask 
that you should inconvenience yourself, for when 
one is on a journey, or at other times, things occur ; 
then, as a matter of course, writing must wait. 
Herewith I send a little fairing, and hope that it 
may please you. Greet your mother, my son, and all 
good friends from her who is unchangeably 
My dear son's faithful mother, 

E. G. 

53. Frau Rath to Duchess Anna Amalia. 

Frankfort, on the 13th June, 1784. 
Most Serene Princess : Hofrath Bode was a 
very agreeable Bote (messenger) to me,* for he 
brought good tidings of our dear Princess, and such 
a gracious, charming little letter, which gave me 
the joyful assurance that remembrance of me is still 
green and flourishing with a Princess whose favor 
and good wishes I value above everything in the 
world. Your Serene Highness has the kindness to 

* " Hofrath Bode war mir ein gar lieber Bote." This is a pun. 



124 Goethe s Mother. 

ask how it is with me. Thank God, ever still in the 
same old way ; that is, being interpreted, well, happy, 
in good spirits, and so on. To be sure, in my situa- 
tion, this is, indeed, no great art. But yet, for all 
that, it depends more on an inward contentment 
with God, with myself, and with the rest of man- 
kind, than directly on the outward circumstances. I 
know so many people who are not at all happy, who 
make to themselves their little bit of life so sour, 
and, for all their gloom and their undesirable mode 
of being, fate is not in the least to blame. In dis- 
content then lies the whole fault. Your Serene 
Highness will pardon me this moral broth ; * it is, 
besides, not precisely in my line, but within a short 
time I have become the condfiant of various persons, 
who all consider themselves unhappy, and yet there 
is not a word of truth in it. Consequently, their 
vexation and torment make me sorry for the poor 
souls, and so on. The terribly long winter makes 
one doubly sensible of the joys of spring. I, too, 
dearest Princess, enjoy as much as is ever possible 
the magnificence of beautiful nature, and the exquisite 
image of our dearest Princess accompanies me in all 
the joys of life. I should only like once more to 
enjoy the good fortune of seeing the original, so 
dear to me ! Is there, then, no probability at all 
of this — no possibility ? Son Wolff, also, does not 
come ; and yet there come from east and west, south 
and north, figures which might stay away. All this, 
indeed, belongs to the miseries of the time. How is, 
then, my dear, gracious Fraulein von Gochhausen ? 

* " Diese moralische Bruhe." 



Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 125 

The dear fraulein seems to be somewhat shy of ink, 
an ill which often attacks me too. May I humbly 
beg you to present my friendly greeting, and to add 
how heartily I long to appear before her eyes with 
the splendid nosegay ? * God grant that it may soon 
occur, Amen. I commend myself in all submissive- 
ness to further favor, and remain until the grave, 
Most Serene Princess, 

Your most humbly faithful, most obe- 
dient servant (Dienerin), 

Goethe. 

54. Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 2d July, 1784. 
Dear SON : I recognize, in your last letter, all 
your friendly feeling toward me ; it would give me 
also great pleasure to see you and my son ; but it is 
in no wise practicable ; travelling* was never my 
forte, and just now it is almost utterly impossible. 
It would be too much at length for me to mention 
all the circumstances which prevent me ; and you, 
my dear son, would after all not comprehend me, 
because you do not know the details of my situa- 
tion. Providence has already granted me many an 
unexpected joy, and I have the confident belief that 
many more such await me, and to see you and my 
son here belongs certainly among the very greatest ; 
and I am sure my hope will not be confounded. 
Keep her in good remembrance who is unchange- 
ably 

Your faithful mother, E. G. 

* Birthday gift from Fiaulein von Gochhausen. 



126 Goethe s Mother. 

55. Fran Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Frankfort, the 9th September, 1784. 
DEAR SON : Although you would have received 
this letter sooner through the post, yet I could not 
refuse the bringer of it, who begged me very much 
to give him something to take with him. I thank 
you with all my heart for the description of your 
person, so dear and interesting to me ; especially it 
rejoices me that you already know so well what is 
good in you and what not. Bravo, dear son ! that 
is the only way to become noble, great, and useful to 
mankind. A man who does not know his own faults, 
or does not wish to know them, will in the end be- 
come insupportable, vain, full of pretension, intoler- 
ant — no one will be able to endure him, even were 
he the greatest genius. I know striking examples of 
this. But the good that is in us we must also know ; 
this is just as necessary, just as useful. A man who 
does not know what his value is, who does not know 
his own ability, and, consequently, has no belief in 
himself, is a simpleton who has no firm step and 
footing, but goes forever in leading-strings, and in 
secuhim seculorum remains a child. Dear son, keep 
in this good way, and your excellent parents will 
bless the day of your birth. It is a great proof of 
your love and friendship that you ask for an exact 
description of my person. Herewith I send you two 
silhouettes. To be sure, in the large one the nose is 
a little too strong, and the small one is too youthful, 
yet, with all that, there is much that is correct in 
them. I am in person rather stout and rather cor- 
pulent ; have brown eyes and hair, and would ven- 



Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 127 

ture to think that I could well personate the mother 
of Prince Hamlet. Many persons, the Princess of 
Dessau among the rest, maintain that no one could 
fail to see that Goethe is my son. I cannot quite 
make it out, yet there must be something in it, be- 
cause it has been so frequently maintained. Order 
and quiet are leading traits of my character ; hence 
I do everything at once, right off-hand — the most 
disagreeable always first — and swallow the devil (ac- 
cording to Gevatter Wieland's wise counsel *) with- 
out looking long at him. When all, then, lies again 
in the old folds, when everything uneven is again 
smooth, then I bid defiance to any one who would 
surpass me in good humor. Now, dear son, come 
some time and see all this for yourself. 1 will take 
all pains to procure for you joy and pleasure. 

Be assured that I am evermore your true friend 
and faithful mother, E. G. 



56. Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Frankfort, the 23d December, 1784. 
Dear Son : Do not, on any account, believe that 
I had forgotten you ; that is not at all my habit. The 
cause of my not writing for the present lies in the 
short days. I cannot without injury to my health 
write immediately after dinner, and, just as little, by 

* Herr Gawin war dem Zaudern gram, 
Er denkt : " wer sich den Teufel zu verschlucken 
Entschlossen hat, muss ihn nicht lang begucken." 

Wieland, " Sommermahrchen." 

Herr Gawin was no friend to delay. He thinks: "Whoever 
has resolved to swallow the devil must not look at him long." 



128 Goethe s Mother. 

candlelight. In the morning it is not day before half 
past eight, and by the time I am dressed, and have 
the rest of my affairs in order, it is mid-day, one 
knows not how ; should morning visits occur besides, 
which happens not infrequently, writing is entirely 
omitted. I am convinced that these reasons are 
obvious to you. Now, further, I have received safely 
the drawings, and thank you for them. I will also 
help to pray that her Serene Highness* may be 
brought happily to bed. The Lord Duke is still in 
Darmstadt, and diverts himself with the hunt. He 
came through Frankfort, and I had the pleasure of 
entertaining him in my house at a breakfast. I am 
much more fortunate than Frau von Reck. That lady 
must travel about in order to see Germany's learned 
men ; they all visit me in my house, which is by far 
more commodious. Yes, yes, those to whom God is 
gracious He blesses in their sleep. f Dear son, firmly 
convinced that you prize my good-will above my 
deed, I send you herewith something from our Christ- 
mas bonbons, with a purse, because its fashion and 
color seemed to me pretty. We have snow here 
also ; that, now, I like very well ; but such high 
water as last year I will pray to have averted. Fare- 
well. Greet your dear mother, my son, Herder, 
Wieland, Bode, and so on, from 
Your faithful mother, 

E. G. 



* Duchess Louisa, of Saxe-Weimar. 

f " Ja, ja, wem's Gott gonnt, giebt er's im Schlaf." The Frau 
Rath probably had in her mind the passage in the 127th Psalm, 
which reads, in Luther's translation, " Denn seinen Freunden gibt 
er es schlafend." (lie blesses His own while they sleep.) 



Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 129 



57. Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 1 6th May, 1785. 
Dear Son : During this fair the weather was cold 
and very unfriendly, and it is not yet particularly 
agreeable. On the 16th April the joy and pleasure 
of the whole city was near being turned into mourn- 
ing and lamentation. Fire broke out after midnight 
in the splendid new play-house, and had help come 
a half hour later all would have been lost. The 
Director has lost everything — brought off nothing but 
his life, and those of his six children. But in such 
cases, may God honor my Frankforters, three collec- 
tions were opened at once, one by the nobles, one 
by the merchants, one by the Free Masons, and 
brought together a fine sum. His children, too, got 
so many goods, clothing, etc., that it was a pleasure 
to see. As the disaster had spared the theatre, per- 
formances were resumed three days after, and, in fact, 
with Der deutsche Hausvater {the German father of a 
family), in which Director Grossman plays the painter 
capitally. Before it began the curtain rose, and he 
appeared in his half-burned coat, with his head and 
hands bound up, which had received severe injuries, 
and made a speech, which I send you herewith. His 
six children stood about him in miserable clothing, 
and cried so, all of them, that one must have beenj 
of wood and stone not to have cried with them ; 
indeed there was not a dry eye, and in order to en- 
courage him and to convince him that the public had 
pardoned his carelessness, they applauded him by 
shouting " Bravo" and clapping hands. 



130 Goethe s Mother. 

I have related to my son the particulars of my ill- 
ness ; it was a severe cold, but now I am right well 
again. Farewell, and greet my son. I am evermore 
Your true friend, 

E. G. 



The eight letters which follow relate to a visit of 
Fritz von Stein to his ' 4 dear mother" in Frankfort. 
Among them is one from Fritz himself, the only one 
of his to the Frau Rath which has been published. 

The novelties of the day were Mozart's Marriage 
of Figaro and balloon ascensions. 

The Frau Rath at once nicknamed her little friend 
Cherubino, and delighted him with the music of the 
Coimtess and the Page. 

About the balloons, to the surprise of her son, 
she seems to have been less enthusiastic, in spite of 
the great excitement in Frankfort over Blanchard. 
When the latter returned to the city after his ascen- 
sion of the 3d October, 1785, he was received with 
the wildest enthusiasm. His carriage was drawn by 
men to the theatre, where he was led from box to box 
amid universal congratulations. On the stage his bust 
was crowned in a Temple of Fame, while Graces and 
Loves advanced, singing couplets in his praise, to 
place the laurel upon his brow. He was presented 
with gold snuff-boxes, watches, medals, and money ; 
and twelve German princes and princesses who 
chanced to be at Frankfort subscribed for a balloon 
capable of carrying fifty persons, to be ready for the 
next coronation. 



Goethe to Friedrich voii Stein. 131 

58. Goethe to Friedrich von Stein. 

One is so much occupied here the whole day, 
although nothing really is done, that I have not yet 
been able to write to thee. 

I have received thy letter, and am pleased that 
the Herren Straube are willing to take thee with 
them to Frankfort. Thou must thank them for it at 
once, and accept it in the manner it was offered. 

We have climbed many mountains and shall bring 
with us for thee, too, many stones and ores. Herr 
v. Knebel greets thee, thy mother also. She is very 
well. 

There are a great many people here, also a few 
creatures of thy age. Every one comes with his 
little jug, early in the morning, to Sprudel,* and 
partakes of the hot water. 

I am well, and hope thou art so. Distribute 
many greetings from me. 

G. 

Carlsbad, the 13th July, '85. 

59. Goctlie to Friedrich von Stein. 

I am very glad that thou hast arrived safely, and 
been well received. Think often of the precepts 
of old Polonius, and thou wilt continue to get on 
well. 

Write but something every day, that we may know 
what thou art about. Thy mother is in Kochberg 
and thy father here. I am very much alone, and 
in the mean time am unpacking the Carlsbad stones. 

* Hot spring at Carlsbad. 



132 Goethe s Mother. 

Greet my mother, and relate to her a great deal. 

As she is not so grave as I am, thou wilt fare bet- 
ter with her. Enjoy the good fruit, and greet all 
repeatedly from me. 

G. 

Weimar, the 5th September, 1785. 

60. Fricdrich von Stein* to Fran Rath, 

Dear Godmother : I have arrived here safely, 
and now I will tell you about my journey. We did 
not set out Tuesday evening until 8 o'clock, 
although at 6 o'clock you gave me your parting 
blessing. In Hanau there were no horses to be had, 
so we slept there the whole night, and the next 
morning at 6 o'clock we were conveyed on, and for 
our whole journey to Eisenach we had none but 
tired horses. We got there Thursday evening. 
Friday we remained at Eisenach and arrived Satur- 
day night at 1 o'clock. On coming into the town 
we found two houses burned down. Your son greets 
you heartily. I owe you many thanks for all the 
kindness you have lavished upon me. I shall always 
owe you hearty thanks for it — hearty thanks, dear 
godmother. Many people think I have grown stout. 
I can well believe it, for you have fed me so well, 
better than the Countess did Cherubino. Your son 
was very much astonished that you Avere such a 
philosopher about the balloon. I thank you once 
more. All greet you. 

Friedrich. 

Weimar, the 3d October, '85. 



* Twelve years of age. 



Goethe to his Mother, 133 



61. Goethe to his Mother. 

You have shown me many kindnesses, dear mother, 
this year, for which I heartily thank you. The kind 
reception of dear Fritz and the care for him gives 
me pleasure as something done wholly out of love 
for me. You will find that he is a charming child, 
and his narrations are now giving me great pleasure. 
If one, after the manner of Swedenborgian spirits, 
wishes to look through the eyes of others, one would 
do best to choose children's eyes for that purpose ; 
he has arrived with Hr. v. Niebecker, safe and well. 

Thank all friends from me. To Riese I write my- 
self. Farewell ; very soon I shall send something 
amusing. What effect have The Geschwister pro- 
duced ? 



G. 



W., the 3d Octbr, 1785. 



On the 6th October, 1785, Goethe writes to Frau 
von Stein :*■_ "I must, then, wait still until next 
Wednesday, and the days will pass silently by unless 
Fritz should be noisy. He is merrier than ever be- 
fore. He has in Frankfort first rightly learned to 
know freedom, and my mother has first fully taught 
him the philosophy of a cheerful life. Thou wilt be 
astonished to see how much he is improved in every 
respect." 



* Goethe's " Briefe an Frau von Stein." Edited by Scholl. 



134 Goethe s Mother. 

62. Fran Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 20th October, 1785. 
My DEAR CHERUBIM : Your so fortunately com- 
pleted journey and the detailed description of it gave 
me much pleasure. It also delighted my inmost heart 
that my dear Fritz has me in good remembrance. 
But I forget just as little, my dear good son. 
Everything reminds me of him — the pears which 
tasted so good to him early in the morning while I 
drank my tea ; how we, after that, had ourselves 
rigged up, he by Sachs, I by Zeitz, and how, after the 
powder-gods were done with us, there began a dress- 
ing and an adorning, and then the vis-a-vis at table, 
and how I at two o'clock chased my cherubim off 
to the fair (truly sometimes rather rudely), and how 
we met again at the play, and the bringing home, and 
then the Duodrama in the hall, where the stout 
Catharine held the light, while Greineld and Marie 
represented the audience- -that was always capital fun. 
Herewith I send you a faithful, true, and detailed 
description, signed by wearers of stars and order-rib- 
bons, of the air-balloon, which first exploded but 
afterward flew up in the air to the delight of all 
Christendom, together with all the king-klang and 
sing-song, amusing to read and devout to contem- 
plate. For the rest I am well, and shall to-day see 
Count Essex beheaded. Yesterday the serene Saul 
was on hand and delighted everybody ; but, good 
God ! what does not one see in noble Frankfort ! 
Heaven keep us thereby. Amen. May you live 
happy and fortunate ; this is my wish, and it will ever 
be grateful to the heart of 

Your faithful friend and godmother, E. G. 



Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 135 

63. Frau Rath to Frau von Stein. 

Fr., the 14th November, 1785. 
Gracious Lady, dearest Friend : I was very 
glad that your son was so pleased with his stay with 
me. I have done everything at least to make my 
native city agreeable to him, and rejoice that I have 
been successful. True, I have the grace from God, 
that as yet no living soul has ever left me dissatis- 
fied, of whatever rank, age, or sex. I love human 
kind, and old and young feel it. I go without pre- 
tension through the world, and that pleases all 
earth's sons and daughters. I demoralize no one, 
always seek to spy out the good side, and leave the 
bad one to Him who created man, andwho best un- 
derstands how to smooth off the sharp angles ; and 
by this method I find myself well, happy, and con- 
tent ; with which I have the honor to remain and to 
commend myself most respectfully to further good- 
will and friendship, and to subscribe myself, gracious 
lady, 

Your most obedient servant and friend, 

Elizabeth Goethe. 

P.S. To your husband, as well as to both your 
sons, my best compliments. 



64. Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 10th December, 1785. 
Dear Son : That is good, that you still think of 
me. I and my friends also, dear Fritz, have not for- 
gotten you, and never will. We have, this winter, 



136 Goethe s Mother. 

three public concerts, but I go to none of them ; at 
least, I am not a subscriber ; the grand one which is 
given on Fridays is too stiff for me, the Monday one 
too poor, the Wednesday one gives me ennui, and 
that I can have more comfortably in my own sitting- 
room. During the four weeks of Advent we have no 
play ; after New Year's we are to have a company 
from Strassburg. The director is named Kober- 
wein. For the rest I am, as ever, in good spirits ; 
that is, after all, the chief thing. In my little house- 
hold everything goes on the same as you saw it, only 
as it pleases the sun to stay longer in bed, so it 
pleases me too : before half-past nine I do not come 
out of the feathers. I cannot see, either, why I 
should fatigue myself — quiet, quiet is my felicity ; 
and since God grants it me, I enjoy it with thankful- 
ness. Every Sunday I dine with Frau Stock ; in 
the evening come Frau Hollweg Bethmann, her 
mother, Demoiselle Moritz, Herr Thurneisen, Herr 
Graf, and we play quadrille, l'hombre, and so on, 
and enjoy ourselves greatly. On other days also the 
good God bestows something, and thus one wanders 
through the world, enjoys its little pleasures, and 
pretends to no great ones. Farewell, dear son, and 
hold her dear who calls herself 

Your faithful friend, E. G. 

65. Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 1 8th December, 1785. 
Dear Fritz : To keep myself snugly in the mem- 
ory of my dear son, and that he may not forget his 
good mother, I send him, herewith, a little remem- 



Frau Rath to her Grandchildren. 13J 

brance ; at the same time come the two favorite 
songs ; and as I do not know whether the German 
Figaro is in fashion at Weimar, the ballad follows 
also. Dear Fritz, do you still remember how we sang 
together, and were so cheerful and merry over it ? 
" Frohlichkeit ist die Mutter aller Tugenden," * 
says Gotz von Berlichingen, and he is surely right. 
When we are contented and happy, we wish to see 
everybody pleased and cheerful, and we do every- 
thing to conduce to this, within our sphere of activity. 
As everything here is now going on very quietly, I 
can find nothing at all amusing to write ; I there- 
fore do better to copy off Figaro's song. I wish you 
pleasant holidays, and am and remain 

Your true, good friend, E. G. 



66. Fran Rath to Iter Graudchild?'e}i.\ 

The 13th January, 1786. 
Dear Grandchildren : I am very glad that my 
Christmas present has given you pleasure. I hear, 
too, the whole year, from your dear mother, that 
you are clever and good girls. Continue so — nay, be- 
come still better as you grow ; obey your dear 
parents, who certainly seek your welfare ; thus you 
will give joy to us all ; and it is very charming 

*"G6tz von Berlichingen," act i. scene ii. Brother Martin 
says, '" Freudigkeit ist die Mutter aller Tugenden," Joyousness 
is the mother of all virtues. 

f These were Schlosser's children, Louisa and Julia, by his first 
wife, Cornelia Goethe ; Henrietta and Edward, by his second wife, 
Johanna Fahlmer. 



138 Goethe s Mother. 

when, in return for all the pains of your bringing 
up, your parents, grandmother, and other friends 
are pleased with you. With the knitting-bag I am 
much delighted ; I take it with me to all companies, 
and tell of my Louisa's skill and industry. You 
must now teach your brother Edward to run about 
nicely, so that when the spring comes he can jump 
about with you in the garden ; that will be fun. If 
I were with you I would teach you all sorts of 
games, as bird-selling, hunt-the-handkerchief, potz 
schimper, potz schemper, and many others besides ; 
but the G.'s must know all these just as well ; they 
are great fun for children, and you know indeed that 
your grandmother likes to be merry and to make 
others merry. 

Now God keep you this year well, happy, and 
gay, which will heartily rejoice 

Your faithful, loving grandmother 

Goethe. 

67. Frau Rath ta Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 25th May, 1786. 
Ei ! Ei ! my dear son ! You seem to be really 
vexed with your godmother ! But first hear my 
excuses, and I wager all enmity will be at an end. 
It is true that I have not answered two of your let- 
ters ; but, dear friend, it was fair-time ! Friends and 
acquaintances took up all my time. Herr Kriegs- 
rath Merck was here every day, the celebrated poet 
Burger, Reichardt from Berlin, and other less im- 
portant mortals. Writing was not to be thought of ; 
and what I now do I do against the order of my 



Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 139 

physician, who, with the whey-drinking (which I am 
now following), has forbidden all writing ; yet to 
appease my dear son I will write, after all, in spite 
of the whole medical faculty. The 8th May was a 
joyous day to me as well as to Goethe's friends — 
" Gotz von Berlichingen" was performed. I send the 
play-bill herewith. You will perhaps still remember 
the people whom you saw on the stage while you 
were here. The appearance of Brother Martin, 
Gotz before the councillors at Heilbronn, the bullet- 
casting, the battle with the imperial army, the dying 
scenes of Weislingen and of Gotz, produced great 
effect. The question, " Whence come you, most 
learned Sir ?" and the reply, " From Frankfort on the 
Main," raised such shouting and applause as was joy- 
ful to hear, and the way in which the Prince (for 
here and in Mainz bishops are not allowed on the 
stage) sat there in stupid ease and said : " Potz, then 
the ten commandments must be in it too," the great- 
est grumbler must have laughed. Summa Summa- 
rum ! I had a hearty enjoyment in the whole per- 
formance. Now, dear son, are you once more at one 
with me ? This is after all a tolerably fair letter for 
a woman to whom writing is forbidden. We are 
again good friends and in this hope I subscribe my- 
self as 

Your true and faithful friend, 

E. G. 

P.S. Tuesday, the 30th May, at the request of 
the Hereditary Prince of Darmstadt, Gotz von Ber- 
lichingen is to be again performed. Potz, little Fritz, 
that will be sport ! 



140 Goethe s Mother. 



68. Frau Rath to Lavater. 

Early Sunday morning, ) 

at 6 o'clock, the 18th June, 1786. f 
Dear SON : The Princess of Wiirtemberg, mother 
of the Grand Duchess, is coming to-day to Offenbach 
to hear you preach. Her Highness begs you most 
politely through me not to be so very exact in 
mounting the pulpit, but to wait until she has come, 
which probably will be only a quarter of an hour 
later. The bell-purse" may console the OfTenbachers 
for this short delay. 

Farewell ! A good journey to you. Hold her dear 
and in kind remembrance who is forever 
Your faithful friend, 

Elizabeth Goethe. 



In the autumn of 1786, Goethe left Carlsbad, where 

* Alms were collected in a purse with bells attached to attract 
attention. The meaning probably is that the amount put in the 
purse by the Princess will make up for the delay she may cause. 

We do not know what might have been the custom at Offenbach, 
but at Zurich it was the duty of the pastor himself to hold the bag. 
Goethe narrates how Lavater turned this circumstance to account 
for his physiognomical studies : 

"On Sundays, after the sermon, it was his duty, as an ecclesi- 
astic, to hold the short-handled velvet alms-bag before each one 
who went out, and to bless as he received the pious gift. Now, on 
a certain Sunday he proposed to himself, without looking at the 
several persons as they dropped in their offerings, to observe only 
their hands, and by them silently to judge of the forms of their 
owners. Not only the shape of the finger, but its peculiar action 
in dropping the gift, was attentively noted by him, and he had 
much to communicate to me on the conclusions he had formed." 
(Autobiography.) 



Goethe to his Mother. 141 

he had been passing a portion of the summer, for 
Italy. The journey was kept a profound secret from 
every one, the Duke alone excepted. His mother's 
first intelligence of it was this letter from Rome which 
reached her on the 15th November. It bore date 
4th November. 

The Frau Rath's reply to this letter is well known ; 
it was found in 1868 in the police archives at Vienna. 
Goethe's letter, on the other hand, was printed for 
the first time in 1877. It was found among the 
papers of Fritz Schlosser, and appears among the 
Goethe letters which have been collected from these 
papers.* 

Goethe to his Mother. 

Rome, the 4th Nov., '86. 

First of all I must tell you, dear mother, that I have 
arrived here safe and sound. My journey, which I 
entered upon in absolute secrecy, has given me great 
pleasure. I have come through Bavaria, Tyrol, by 
Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Venice, Ferrara, Bologna, 
and Florence, quite alone and unknown, and here 
also I preserve a kind of incognito. 

What happiness I feel that so many of my life's 
dreams and wishes are being fulfilled, and that I now 
see in actual nature the objects which from my child- 
hood I have seen in engravings, and of which I heard 
my father so often speak — this I cannot express to 
you. 

All these things, it is true, I see rather late, yet 



* " Goethe-Briefe aus Fritz Schlosser's Nachlass," von Julius 
Frese. 



142 Goethe s Mother. 

with all the more benefit and a great deal in a short 
time. 

How long I shall stay I do not yet know ; it will de- 
pend upon how matters are at home. In any case I 
shall return through Switzerland and pay you a visit, 
then we will enjoy ourselves together, but this must 
remain a secret between us. 

To-day I have not time to say much ; I only wished 
you should speedily share in my joy. I shall come 
back as a new man, and live to greater enjoyment for 
myself and my friends. 

The enclosed letter send to the Bethmanns with- 
out their knowing that it comes through you. The 
Bethmanns have opened a credit for me, without be- 
ing aware of it, in an assumed name. 

Write to me soon at length how you are, and also 
whatever news there may be ; in a foreign country 
everything is interesting that concerns friends and 
dear ones. 

Also for my guidance tell me when this letter 
reaches you. Farewell, and keep me in love. 

G. 

Goethe's visit to Rome gave at first much uneasi- 
ness to the Austrian police. Here was the Duke of 
Saxe-Weimar's Minister of State concealing himself 
in Rome, under the name of Herr Miiller. What 
had he come for ? Spies were set to watch his 
movements. What they ferreted out may be found 
in the letters of Cardinal von Herzan, Imperial Am- 
bassador at the Papal Court, to Count Kaunitz.* 

* " Die theologische Dienerschaft am Hofe Joseph II.," von 
Sebastian Brunner. 



Goethe s Visit to Rome. 143 

The secretary of the Ambassador scraped acquaint- 
ance with Goethe at an inn. All he found out was 
that he lived mostly with artists, and refused to go 
into society. But the Cardinal was not satisfied with 
these meagre details. While Goethe had gone to 
Naples, the Ambassador writes to his chief : "I 
have directed my secretary, upon whose honesty I 
can rely, that on Goethe's return, which will probably 
soon follow, he must place himself in closer relations 
with him in order to be in a position to keep with 
security a watchful eye upon his conduct, and in case 
of need upon his secret intentions ; whatsoever in 
consequence comes to my knowledge I shall have 
the honor to report to your Excellency without de- 
lay. " They discovered that his letters to his Prince 
were under his own address — " To Herr Goethe, 
Privy Councillor to the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. " He 
had also an active correspondence with various 
learned men, and with his mother in Frankfort ; "a 
letter from the latter my secretary has got into his 
hands, and I enclose it herewith." Goethe received 
this letter, and it must have been stolen from his 
room. 

' Tischbein, the painter, introduced him to his 
great friend and patron, the Russian Councillor Rie- 
fenstein ; with him he often dined and was very 
intimate. Hirt, the antiquarian, who is often at the 
house of the young Prince of Lichtenstein, persuaded 
Goethe to allow himself to be presented to the Prince 
with express prohibition of all ceremony ; he often 
afterward went there to dine. By this Prince he was 
taken to the Arcadian Society, where he was made 
member by acclamation, under the name of Megal- 



144 Goethe s Mother. 

lio ; from that time he allowed himself to be called 
Herr Goethe, or Privy Councillor Goethe." 

The letter which follows is the one which the 
honest secretary "got into his hands." It was 
found in 1868, by Dr. Sebastian Brunner, neatly fold- 
ed among the Archives at Vienna. A more harmless 
document has probably rarely found its way into a 
diplomatic correspondence. Fancy the wily Kaunitz 
meditating upon the Frau Rath's account of her life, 
which was flowing " quietly on like a clear brook," 
while she herself was " as happy as a goddess." 

69. Fran Rath to Goethe in Rome. 

Frankfort, the 17th November, 1786. 
DEAR Son : An apparition from the other world 
could not have caused me more astonishment than 
thy letter from Rome. I could have shouted 45 " for 
j'05^, that the wish which lay in thy heart from earliest 
youth has now been fulfilled. A man like thee, with 
thy knowledge, with thy great glance for all that is 
good, great, and beautiful, one with such an eagle eye, 
a journey like this must make happy and fortunate 
for all the rest of his life, and not thee only, but all 
who have the good fortune to live within the sphere 
of thy activity. The words of the blessed Kletten- 
berg will remain ever in my memory, " When thy 
Wolfgang goes to Mainz he brings back more knowl- 
edge than others who come back from Paris or Lon- 
don." But I would have liked to have seen thee at 
thy first sight of St. Peter's. However, thou prom- 
isest to visit me on the return journey, and then thou 

* Or " screamed." Dr. Frese calls this letter a Freudenschrei. 



Frau Rath to Goethe in Rome. 145 

must describe me everything to a hair. About four 
weeks ago, Fritz von Stein wrote that he was in great 
perplexity on thy account ; not a soul, not even the 
Duke knew where thou wast ; everybody thought 
thee in Bohemia, and so on. Thy letter of the 4th 
November, so precious and interesting, came to me 
on the evening of Wednesday, the 15th, at 6 o'clock. 
The Bethmanns' letter I have juggled into their 
hands in such a droll way that they certainly will 
not guess it comes from me. Of my inner and outer 
well-being here follows an exact and faithful descrip- 
tion. My life flows quietly on like a clear brook. 
Disquiet and commotion were never agreeable to me, 
and I thank Providence for my days. To thousands 
such a life would seem monotonous, but not to me ; 
the quieter my body is the more active in me are my 
thinking powers. Thus I can pass a whole live-long 
day entirely alone, wonder that it is evening, and be 
as happy as a goddess, and one needs not in this 
world more than to be happy and contented. The 
newest from thy old acquaintances is that Papa La 
Roche is no longer in Speyer, but has bought himself 
a house in Offenbach, and proposes there to end his 
days. The rest of thy friends are all still what they 
were ; not one has made such giant strides as thou. 
But "we were always the lackeys," the late Max 
Mohrs once remarked. When thou com est here all 
these people must be invited and handsomely enter- 
tained—game, roasts, poultry, like the sands of the 
sea, it shall truly be splendid ! Dear son, an humble 
doubt just occurs to me as to whether this letter may 
come into thy hands. I do not know where thou art 
living in Rome, thou art half in conito (as thou writ- 



146 Goethe s Mother. 

est). We will hope for the best, but before thou 
comest let something be heard from thee, otherwise 
I should be thinking every post-chaise brought me 
my sole beloved one, and hope disappointed is very 
disagreeable to me. Farewell, dear one, and think 
often of thy faithful mother, 

Elisabetha Goethe. 



70. Fran Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 17th December, 1786. 
Dear Son : Herewith I send you a Christmas 
present that you may continually bear me in mind. 
Yes, dear son, do this, think of one who ever with 
pleasure recalls the time when we lived together so 
many a joyous day. It is only a pity that everything 
passes so quickly by and that the joys of life are ever 
on the wing ; for this reason one must never frighten 
them away by whims, but snatch them quickly, other- 
wise they are off and hasten and glide away into Eia 
Poppeia !* Do you not yet know where my son is ? 
That is a wandering knight. Well, he will some day 
or other appear and give account of his heroic deeds. 
Who knows how many giants and dragons he has 
fought, and how many imprisoned princesses he has 
set free ! We will rejoice in anticipation of the rela- 
tion of his adventures, and await with patience the 
unravelling of the plot.f There is nothing at all 

* Literally, bye, baby, bye. Eia Poppeia is the refrain to the lul- 
labies which put German babies to sleep. The meaning of the 
passage may possibly be something like this : " Hasten and glide 
away into (eternal) slumber." 

f It will be noticed that the Frau Rath says nothing about her 



Frau Rath to Frau von Stein. 147 

new here ; our free imperial citizens eat, drink, ban- 
quet, make music, dance, and divert themselves in all 
manner of ways, and as they enjoy themselves may 
God bless it to them. Farewell, dear son, and 
think sometimes also in the year 1787 of 
Your true friend, 

E. G. 

71. Frau Rath to Frau von Stein. 

Fr., the 9th January 1787. 
High and Noble Lady, Excellent Friend : 
How many thanks I owe you for the communication 
of the so very interesting letters. I rejoice that my 
son's longing to see Rome has been fulfilled. It was 
from his youth up his daily thought, his nightly 
dream. The happiness which he must feel and enjoy 
in seeing the masterpieces of the old world I can 
fancy to the life, and I rejoice in his joy. His Serene 
Highness, the Duke, gave me a most agreeable sur- 
prise. My joy was great to see our dear prince well 
and happy. Herr von Knebel and Count von 
Lincker were his companions ; your brother was not 
with them. The letter so dear to me I received by a 
huntsman from Meiningen, who was sent through here 
to Darmstadt. I commend myself and my son most 
heartily to your and your husband's continued love 
and friendship, and remain with the greatest respect, 
high and noble lady, 

Your most obedient servant and friend, 

E. Goethe. 

letter from Rome. She does not wish to violate her son's " in- 
conito." 



148 Goethe s Mother. 

72. Fran Rath to FriedricJi von Stein. 

Fr., the 9th March, 1787. 
Dear Son : Great and manifold thanks for the 
letters sent. It was to me a comfort, a cordial, and a 
joy to hear from the great distance such good news 
from my son. Beg your mother to please send me 
everything that reaches her and I shall be right 
heartily thankful therefor. Have no anxiety about 
their being copied ; no one gets a sight of them. You 
are, then, not of the opinion that my son will remain 
a still longer time away. I, for my part, gladly 
grant him to enjoy to the last drop the joy and hap- 
piness in which he is now living, and under so fortu- 
nate a constellation will he probably never see Italy 
again. I vote, therefore, for a longer stay there, pro- 
vided it occurs with the Duke's consent. Greet my 
dear son Wieland, and the Herders, but especially 
your whole household, from her who is unchangeably 
Your true friend, 

E. G. 

73. Fran Rath to FriedricJi von Stein. 

Fr., the 22d Febr., 1788. 
Dear Son : My best thanks for the Pandora and 
the Court Calendar. I have a letter of the 3d of this 
month from Rome, in which my son writes that 
about Easter he would let me know whether I shall 
get a sight of him this year or not. I think from this 
that it is still extremely uncertain whether he returns 
by Frankfort. That he is become cold toward his 
friends I do not believe, but put yourself in his 



Frait Rath to Unzelmann. 149 

place, set down in an entirely new world, a world to 
which from his childhood he has clung with his 
whole heart and soul, and the enjoyment which he 
now has of it. A hungry man who has long fasted 
will at a well-spread table think neither of father nor 
mother, friend nor sweetheart, until his hunger be 
stilled, and no one could blame him for it. I must 
thank you once more for the Pandora ; it is the queen 
of all other calendars, almanacs, wreaths, and so 
on ; there are capital things in it. Farewell, and keep 
in good remembrance 

Your friend, E. G. 

74. Fran Rat J 1 to Karl Withe Im Ferdinand Unzel- 
mann. 

The 16th March, 1788. 
Oh ! delude me not again ! Oh ! breathe not again 
upon the dead spark ! Leave me rather to my grief, 
which has reached such a height that it would be 
difficult to exceed it. In a storm the thunder 
announces at least the approach of the lightning, 
but here flash and peal were so in one that I shall 
always wonder that my senses did not on the instant 
all leave me. I truly know not if, after so many 
previous deceptions, disappointed expectations, my 
heart to hope which has so often, so infinitely often, 
deluded me, if I ever again shall open it to this de- 
ceiver ; or if it is not better entirely to repulse it, to 
let no more of its rays enter the soul, and to begin 
again my former plant-life, I say once more I know 
not. The pain I now suffer is unutterable. There 
meet me at every corner some of these confounded 



150 Goethe s Mother. 

people and renew every recollection, open every 
wound by their basilisk glances, seek and spy if sad- 
ness is to be perceived in my eyes, in order perhaps 
to rejoice over it, and when I think of the fair in 
which I have taken such a childish pleasure, how the 
boasting St. will regard me with malicious joy — and I 
can on that point so little dissemble ; I know not 
what I shall do or leave undone. But one thing I 
know, this generation of vipers shall be banished from 
my house, no drop of tyrants' blood* shall pass their 
lips, no hand will I lift in their honor or for their en- 
tertainment ; in short, every vexation I can put upon 
them I will do with joy. I will argue, Burger's Frau 
Schnips shall be a child to me, for air I must have or 
I shall stifle. Do not venture again to call F. my 
friend ; it is degrading to me. She was never so and 
never will be ; I am not so lavish of my friendship ; 
very different persons from such an one 'have courted 
it and been graciously sent away. The secret so 
kindly communicated to me I shall keep as a pre- 
cious treasure with which I have been intrusted ; no 
one, not even Toffel, shall know it. I shall regard 
it not so much as a hope (for I am done with that), 
but as a sort of promise. I am apprehensive in re- 
gard to your coming here, you can easily conceive 
why ! ! ! To-morrow I send out dunning letters to 
all my tardy debtors and then will remember you. 
Your Elisabeth. 

P.S. To the Frau Gevatterinf my friendly greeting. 

* Allusion to the old wine Frau Aja set before the Stolbergs 
with the remark, " Here is the true tyrants' blood." See Intro- 
duction, f His wife. 



Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 151 

Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Unzelmann, born 1753, 
died 1832. A celebrated actor, who was for four 
years (1784 to 1788) a member of the theatrical com- 
pany at Frankfort. During his residence at Frank- 
fort he became very intimate with the Frau Rath, 
who, as will be seen by the letters which follow, prided 
herself that she had by her friendly interest con- 
tributed much to his success there. Unzelmann was 
at this time at the neighboring city of Mainz, and 
during his absence it had come to the knowledge of 
the Frau Rath that he had got involved in debt in 
Frankfort, and was in danger of being pursued by his 
creditors. This is the cause of the Frau Rath's 
anxiety and distress, which in the above letter occa- 
sionally obscures her syntax.* In regard to the 
Frau Rath's letter to Unzelmann, Vichoff remarks 
that they " bear in places the stamp of an enthusias- 
tic affection, and show whence the poet of the " Sor- 
rows of Werther" inherited the vivacity and fire of 
his emotion. " 

75. Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 

The 2 1st March, 1788. 
Must then well-nigh always the few happy mo- 
ments I enjoy in your society be so terribly embit- 
tered to me. Think how much pain it gives me 
that my best intentions are continually frustrated — 
my ill-fortune lacks now but the final blow, that you 
should be disgraced by your creditors here. I beg 
you, by all that you love and hold dear, do not come 
until the affairs are arranged in one way or another ; 

* See Diintzer, " Frauenbilder," etc., page 511. 



152 Goethe s Mother. 

it would be my death. Take counsel of the excel- 
lent Count Spaur. Place your and the Frau Gevat- 
terin's wardrobe in safe keeping under the Count's 
care ; you play no more here, so that people will not 
know or see the deficiency — in Berlin still less — for 
you told me yourself that you had no need to trouble 
yourself about your wardrobe there, of what use is it 
then to take all these things with you ? They shall not 
be lost to you, and at this critical moment it would 
at least be a help ; your two friends, the Count and I. 
gain time to consider, for at the present moment it 
is to me impossible. Reflect upon it with the Frau 
Gevatterin. My God ! your honor is more con- 
cerned to go away as an honorable man than to have 
one pair more or less of bedizened robes ; only do 
not let the Jews cheat you, and take counsel in what- 
ever you undertake with your generous friend. I 
am convinced he will give you the best advice. You 
know well that he who gains time gains everything. 
Write to me if it will do, and how. But do not come 
here (I say it once more), under penalty of my dis- 
pleasure, until I can be easy. Should the Count wish 
to correspond with me about this affair it would be 
an honor to me, for four eyes see more than two. My 
friendship toward you will never waver. One must 
only devise ways and means that all parties may be 
satisfied, and that one of them be not too much 
oppressed. Weigh everything prudently and let me 
soon hear better news — this will exceedingly rejoice 
and strengthen 

Your truly distressed friend, 

Elisabeth. 



Frail Rath to Unzelmann. 153 

P.S. Greet the Frau Gevatterin in my name, and 
I beg her to make with us every exertion, that your 
enemies may not triumph. 

Koch is not here yet. There is great uneasiness. 
No soul knows what is to be played on Tuesday. 

76. Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 

Read this entirely alone by yourself. 

In the place where you did not go once more, out 
of groundless fear, although you had promised it, 
they are very angry with you. Satisfaction will be 
demanded from you. In what it will consist I do not 
know. If you give it, all is forgiven, and you come 
back at the time (which you know) with honor. But 
if you do the contrary, you will be published in the 
newspapers, publicly disgraced, and there will be no 
return to be thought of. * It is to be hoped that you 
will be mindful of your best interests and not bring 
yourself and your friends to shame and misfortune. 
A watchful eye is kept upon the correspondence of 
your friends ; the letters will therefore be posted un- 
der other addresses until all is arranged and in order. 
When you, therefore, wish to write to the two friends 
you have in this place, address the letters to our faith- 
ful Toffel, but designate the street where he lives, for 
he has many of kin to him by name. For the rest, 
what your friends here at this time have suffered, may 
fate never let you experience in a similar case ! We 
entreat you to make all right again by doing what is 
demanded of you, in the place you know of, other- 



* Refers to some difficulty Unzelmann had got into with von 
Dahlberg, the intendant of the theatre at Mannheim. 



154 Goethe s Mother. 

wise we are forever lost to you, and you to us. 
Everything else another time. It is no longer the 
moment to talk and write. In the place where you 
now are you must not say a word, neither of this let- 
ter nor of all possible letters that may come, nor of 
their contents. Farewell, 
The 22d April, 1788. 

P.S. Let the address to Toffel be done Ly your 
Frederica, that they may not see your handwrit- 
ing. Send me back the enclosed as soon as you 
have read it. 

This correspondence does not begin remarkably. 
God grant that it may be better in the sequel ! 

77. Fran Rath to Unzelmann. 

The 29th April, 1788. 
DEAR Friend : Your letter from Leipzic and the 
one from Berlin I have read with pleasure, for from 
both is clearly to be seen that you have not yet for- 
gotten our good city and your friends ; it would, in- 
deed, be unjust in you, for may fortune smile on you 
in other zones ever so kindly, yet you will never re- 
gret to have lived and been with us four years. The 
day you left I sent to your lodgings the stout Iris 
with a splendid warm cake, some tyrants' blood, and 
a very well-expressed farewell letter, but a compas- 
sionate Oread called out of the wooden partition (for 
there were no rocks), " He has forever fled from 
thee !" But what did Ariadne do ? That you shall 
presently hear. She did not behave so very wildly and 
angrily ; the Eumenides, the Furies were not dis- 
turbed, and hell heard no word of the whole story. 



Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 155 

Had poor Ariadne of Naxos lived in our enlightened 
age, where all joy and sorrow, all feelings of grief and 
pleasure, are forced into systems, where the passions, 
if they would appear in honest company, must have 
stiff stays on, where laughing and weeping is allowed 
only up to a certain degree, she would surely have 
managed her affairs differently. True, it is somewhat 
troublesome always to wear a mask and always to 
appear different from what one is, but, praise God, 
this is not necessary with you. I can say to you 
that your going away has caused me much sorrow, 
that my hobby* is utterly ruined, that at table the 
time seems intolerably long — in one word, that my 
romance lies at the bottom of the well, and will 
hardly be pulled out again. It is also not to be con- 
cealed from you that I am often bitterly vexed with 
you that your ambition, your mistaken fancies, have 
drive you away from here, since one now sees just 

the contrary of it all Our dear good 

friend Heinrich, I think, represented the affair of 
our correspondence as somewhat more hazardous 
than it was. You will have received my first through 
Herr Lantz, but let me know where you live, so that 
letters need not be sent through a third person. 
How do matters stand in Mainz ? Will those persons 
soon be conciliated ? Our friend there preserves a 
deep silence. Farewell, and continue to think of the 
friends you have left behind, and remember her who, 
even into Charon's boat, is 

Your friend, Elizabeth. 

P. S. My best compliments to the Frau Gevatterin. 
* The theatre. 



156 Goethe s Mother. 

Unzelmann was now in Berlin. From the cake 
and wine sent to his lodgings, it would appear that 
he had been again in Frankfort, in spite of the Frau 
Rath's warnings. But what with debts and jealousy 
of the other actors, his situation had become so un- 
comfortable that the Frau Rath lent him money (as 
afterward appears) to go to Berlin until his affairs 
could be arranged ; hardly, however, had he got 
there before he signed a contract with the Berlin 
Theatre for ten years. 

78. Fran Rath to Unzelmann. 

The 9th May, 1788. 
DEAR FRIEND : So it is then decided that you, 
through your false and thoroughly misplaced pride 
and ambition, will deprive yourself of the love of your 
tried friends, and precipitate yourself into misfor- 
tune. Has your fervid, passionate, hot-brained 
temperament not yet caused you trouble enough? 
Will you never follow the counsel of true and trusted 
friends, friends to whom you owe many, many 
thanks ? Will you in the Mainz affair, also, again 
follow your head, which has already so often done 
you ill service ? In God's name do as you will. But 
if you bring the honored Count into the affair, if you 
so abominably misuse his generous confidence, then 
is this the last letter that you in your life ever get 
to see from me, for a man who not only so soon for 
gets the greatest benefits, but even breaks his word 
to his friend, he cannot be my friend. You consider 
that it would be injurious to your honor if you were 
to ask pardon of Dahlberg. To ask pardon does not 



Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 157 

the slightest injury to honor, for to err is so very hu- 
man, and what reasonable man will then be ashamed 
to say, " I have erred" ? Does not this, indeed, occur 
daily ? Is this anything, then ? On this point your 
honor is truly very ticklish, but your friends who 
have helped you out of a mortal fright, who were the 
cause that you could go away as an honorable man 
(for then, then was your honor at stake), to injure 
these friends, that is consistent with your honor. 
Truly with a man who has such singular principles it 
is not easy to argue. But of how little value my 
friendship is to you I also see now so clearly that my 
eyes smart at the sight. God grant that you may 
fare well in Berlin. May He bestow on you friends 
such as those you have here left behind ! But for this 
a four years' trial is requisite also, and performances 
such as those in which I saw you here more than 
once. We will wait : it will be seen in the end. Unzel- 
mann ! once more I beg you to consider the matter 
maturely before you venture on the dangerous step. 
For if you come forward openly, contend against 
Dahlberg, you are, whether you win or lose, forever 
lost to us, and a prudent general is always glad, after 
all, to keep a retreat open. You will now have re- 
ceived two letters from me which were addressed to 
Herr Inspector Lantz, one also from the Count to 
me ; send it, please, back to me. As I have not yet 
received a line of reply to my two letters, this would 
not have been sent for. In certain things I too am 
proud, but I did it for the Count's sake, from whom 
I have received a truly heart-moving letter. On the 
1 2th May it will be three years since you left us and 
went to Cassel, but then, hope was the great watch- 



158 Goethe s Mother. 

word, and now ! ! ! others enjoy the fruits which we 
have so carefully fostered and cared for, and that 
gives too much pain ! I hope and believe that you 
will not have lost in your short absence all feelings 
of friendship ; such an ungrateful spirit I do not at- 
tribute to you. Put yourself, then, for a moment in 
the place of your friends — a friend whom one has 
loved and cherished, for whom one has done every- 
thing, everything for the present and the future, in 
order to make his days happy and joyous — and this 
friend, for a whim, ruins plans, hopes, and happiness, 
himself bars the way ever to see us again. He who 
over certain things does not lose his reason, he has 
none to lose.* But that you may not think I have 
written all this out of a woman's caprice, read the 
enclosed letter (which I beg to have back), and judge 
for yourself. I had got so far when your letter of 
the 2d May came. I thank you for it, for at least it 
gave me some comfort ; but so long as the affair with 
Mainz is not settled, I would not give a nutshell for 
all hopes. Koch has been to see me and told me 
with tears in his eyes how amazed he had been by 
your sudden departure. You had been together at 
Tabor's, had supped together ; he had accompanied 
you home, had begged you when you came back 
from Mainz to sign a contract for next Easter — every- 
thing would have been so nicely arranged. Death 
could not have more startled him than your sudden 
departure, and, he continued, " even if I did not so 
value him and his wife, as I actually do, yet we need 



* Words of the Countess Orsina in Lessing's Emilia Galotti, 
Act IV., scene VII. 



Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 159 

them. We should have got along and have engaged 
no new people, at least for a long time," and so on. 
" God forgive it the calumniators, who have put things 
in his head about me of which not a syllable is true. 
I play no doubt some of his parts, but his cast of 
parts is so varied, he will everywhere come upon peo- 
ple with whom the same is the case." .... 

Now I have talked enough of you. One more word 
of myself. My rage for the play is about at an end ; 
neither from my box, once so dear to me, in the play- 
house, nor among the players, nor among the mutes, 
do I see what I once saw, and when it occurs to me 
that it will remain so always and forever, and that 
there is little probability of the contrary, it seizes me 
in the breast, so that I think my breath is lost, and 
then ever anew comes to mind the letter. (Oh ! Elisa- 
beth what have I done ?)* Yes, indeed, you might 
well have had some little regard for your friend and 
for the future. My only consolation is that you are 
doing well there, and that you after all will never 
wholly forget her, who has given you so many proofs 
that she was, and is, and remains 

Your friend, 

Elisabeth. 

79. Fran Rath to Unzelmann. 

Written on the second Whitsuntide holiday, ill in 
body and soul, sent off the 13th May, 1788. 

Dear Friend : I am not to make myself uneasy, 
not to fret ; I must rely on the future ! I ! who 

* Probably the letter in which Unzelmann announced that he 
had signed a contract at Berlin for ten years. 



160 Goethe s Mother. 

clearly and plainly see that everything so tends as to 
remove you from us forever. As often as a newspaper 
comes in my sight my limbs tremble lest I find your 
name mentioned in it in some dishonoring way ; and 
should there be but the slightest menace, the least 
defiance contained in the letter of your commission, 
the misfortune is certain, and you are forever lost to 
us. A confinement to your house would have been 
by far, far less disgraceful for you ; how few people 
would have heard of it ! But newspapers, which fly 
about the whole world, which are read by people great 
and small, in places where every child knows you — such 
a thing goes beyond everything ! And then the talk 
in all societies, and your friend in the midst of it, what 
shall she do, or what part shall she play ? Have I 
not already suffered enough on your account — for- 
given, borne, endured ? — and now, beside, this horrible 
of all horribles ! O Fate ! how have I deserved this ? 
My intentions were so good, so upright. I wanted to 
contribute to a man's success, and did precisely the 
contrary. Had I left him what he was, he would be 
still with us — of that I am as firmly convinced as of 
my own existence. Forgive, dear friend, that my let- 
ters are of no better and pleasanter purport ; toward 
you I cannot and would not dissemble. You must 
allow me to disburden my heart ; this proof of 
friendship I indeed deserve, do I not ? For three 
days I was in bed ; to-day I arose with the hope of 
receiving a letter from you, but none came. It is 
the second holiday ; everybody is walking and driv- 
ing. I sit alone in my sitting-room, and know not 
how better to employ my time than in writing to 
you. Were you here, I know well that a little bot- 



Fran Rath to Unzelmann. 161 

tie of tyrants' blood would be enjoyed. But those 
times are past. This noted sitting-room has indeed 
driven many a shade from your brow ; it was a sort 
of asylum when the winds roared, and thunder rolled 
in the air ; it was indeed a safe haven when the little 
boat was driven round and round by the waves. Do 
you still remember the snuff-box I sent you to 
Cassel, three years ago, on which a man in the midst 
of a shipwreck was climbing up a rock, and the 
words which I wrote with it ? Now, you have again 
gone to sea. God grant you ever to find a safe 
port, where you can cast anchor. ... 

Writing is indeed a capital thing, especially to a 
friend, only it is a misfortune that such a letter takes 
seven days to reach its destination. So far have you 
never yet strayed from me as now, and your return 
could at least be reckoned by marking the days. 
Dear friend, one thing, only, I would like to know ; 
did you, then, not think of me at all when you 
signed the contract there ? also, not at all of the con- 
sequences and of the effect such a thing must neces- 
sarily have upon me ? Yet, by heaven, you knew it 
all ! That has always been to me the most incom- 
prehensible part of the whole affair, and still is so, 
for I confess to you such a step would not have oc- 
curred to me in a dream. Stock and his wife send 
their best greetings. Likewise Elise Bethmann, 
although you took with you two pairs of her hus- 
band's stockings ; also friend Thurneissen. By no 
means tell friend Heinrich that I send you any of his 
letters, otherwise he might not write me any more. 
Greet the Frau Gevatterin, 

From your friend, Elisabeth. 



1 62 Goethe s Mother. 

80. Frau Rath to Unzehnann. 

Tuesday, the 27th May, 1788. 
DEAR Friend : It is a great fault of mine that I 
think more on the past than on the present, and 
that I cannot yet entirely blot from my memory the 
ideas, dreams, and fancies which I had taken into my 
head about you. Out of this troubled spring have 
still flowed my last two letters. But I hereby 
solemnly promise you for the future to banish all 
jeremiads from my letters, especially since your 
enemies, instead of serving you ill, have served you 
well, and have driven you into the midst of good 
fortune. Such an honor would you and the Frau 
Gevatterin have not have met with here, even had 
you played like angels ; the Royal Family be 
thanked ! The Burgomeister here would not have 
done it. Altogether, Berlin seems to me to be the 
place where you, at length, will be happy. I beg 
you, therefore, by all that you love and value, do 
not again thrust this good fortune from you. Fate 
is not always so well disposed that when one door 
shuts another immediately opens ; my consolation 
then will ever be, that I, at least, laid the corner- 
stone upon which other greater and more skilful 
architects may now build. This little vanity * you 

* We infer from the testimony of the celebrated actress, Hen- 
rietta Hendel-Schutz, that it was not all vanity on the Frau 
Rath's part, to claim some share in Unzelmann's success. The 
actress alluded to "declared that her early attaining to truth to 
nature, in the exercise of her art, she owed, in great part, to the 
sharp and incisive judgment of this excellent woman, and 
especially to her constant warnings against trying to do too much, 
as well as against every kind of affectation." — (Vichoff, Goethe's 
Leben). 



Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 163 

will not take ill in me, for it makes me happy. 
. . . Dear friend, you have probably forgotten 
that I, upon solicitation, and even on friend Hein- 
rich's security, have employed my credit to raise /6 
Louis d'or for your journey ; this must be paid in 
July, for my honor and pledged word are above 
everything to me. I cannot and will not, therefore, 
enter into anything further of this kind. About 
Frau Bethmann's stockings, it was a joke. I sent, 
immediately, two pairs of new ones in return — from 
her I should not wish any present just now. We 
have the play here four times a week. It gets on as 
well as it can. To me it is now all the same 
whether they play Hanszvurst im Schlafrock (Jack- 
Pudding in J lis Dressing Gozvii) or Don Carlos ; but I 
must, also, not be unreasonable ; when one has rid- 
den a hobby for twelve years, something else may, one 
day, take its place — in the world nothing, indeed, 
stays forever on the same spot. We are to have the 
happiness of seeing your good king. I must surely 
look at him ; it is indeed worth a drive to Hanau ! 
Greet the Frau Gevatterin, and tell her she is a 
quick witch in supplanting the poor theatre-ladies. 
But they can, console themselves with this, that this 
ill-luck has not befallen them alone, but they have 
company in certain persons who have experienced 
the same, and had, also, to resign themselves to it. 
Farewell. May you be happy and fortunate ! But 
do not in the splendid royal residence utterly forget 
poor' Frankfort, but think sometimes of your friends, 
especially of her who calls herself 

Elisabeth. 



164 Goethe s Mother. 

81. Fran Rath to Unzelmann. 

The 24th June, 1788. 
Dear Friend : 111 I am not, just now, in the real 
sense of the word, but sad — out of humor — hopeless — 
cast down ; this is, for the present, my lot, and the 
cause of my not writing. If Orsina * is right, that 
the unhappy like to cling to each other, then the 
contrary is equally true, that the happy, even with 
the best heart and will, cannot sympathize with the 
feelings of the unhappy. A poor man will never feel 
more strongly the burden of poverty, will never be 
more discontented with his lot, than in the society 
of the rich man ; there, there his want depresses 
him, there doubly humbles him ; and every word, be 
it ever so innocent, ever so unimportant, will appear 
to him as scorn, and as satire upon his poverty ; 
every smile will seem to him a mockery of his mis- 
ery, for he who is unhappy is never just— sees 
everything through a colored glass — judges every- 
thing ill. My own experience, my present feelings 
give me the guaranty that the foregoing illustration 
is exceedingly just and appropriate ; for, dear friend, 
you may well believe that some of your letters have 
so depressed and saddened me that I had difficulty 
to rise again. . . . From this you can see how 
ill-tuned are the chords of my nature, and that I, for 
this reason, did not write, in order not to cloud your 
good humor — not to disturb your happiness. In 
the Mainz theatre (I can no longer say in ours here) 
there is, at Easter, to be a truly great change. It is 



* " Die ungliicklichen ketten sich so gern an einander." 
{Emilia Galotti, Act IV., scene VII.). 



Frait Rath to Unzelmann. 165 

said Herr von Dahlberg has undertaken everything, 
and Tabor has nothing at all more to say or do ; his 
rule in Mainz is at an end. But how it will now 
fare with us I know not — do not trouble myself 
about it either. My delight in the play is over, and 
all is past ! Herr Widemann must now be with you, 
and Herr Frankenberg will very soon come to you ; 
by them you can best and more thoroughly be in- 
formed of the matter ; also, what new in operas and 
plays has been given since your departure. In the 
old times to write such a dramatic chronicle would 
have given me great pleasure ; but good humor is 
requisite for it — a happy heart — hope which rejoices 
body and soul — activity of spirit which gives life 
to the dead letters. But this is impossible to 
the dead (which, morally, is now my case). The 
play-bills I have all duly received. Best thanks for 
your kind attention. They will be well taken care of 
as a lasting reminder of how transient is everything 
in this fickle time, for if anyone had prophesied to 
me, in 1785, that 1 should ever receive anything of 
the kind from you, I should have laid his proph- 
etic spirit in some ugly fashion. May you be 
happy and fortunate ; this is my most fervent and 
ardent wish. Think sometimes of her who indeed 
has forever renounced all wishes for herself, but is 
nevertheless 

Your friend, Elisabeth. 

82. Frctu Rath to Unzelmann. 

The 1 8th July, 1788. 
At last a letter, after the lapse of four long weeks, 
which seemed like an eternity. I was, then, not 



1 66 Goethe s Mother. 

quite forgotten ; the recollection of me was not yet 
utterly extinguished. I will, therefore, endeavor to 
make myself as easy as possible ; but promise it I 
cannot, that would moreover be a bad sign ; for a 
friendship which can so readily put itself at ease is as 
good as — past. Do not ever again keep me waiting 
so intolerably long for news from you, but bear, in 
mind that it is the single thing left me, and that all 
my former hopes, expectations, fancies, and so on, 
must restrict themselves, alas, only to the very least 
and smallest things — to the dead letters of the alpha- 
bet — and such little crumbs you will surely not 
deny to a friend so impoverished in all other re- 
spects. In one of your letters you expressed a 
desire to get news of the stage here. From me 
they would be very incomplete, for I often get up 
and go away in the middle of the piece. I did so 
last week in the Glilckliche Jagd (Successful Hunt), 
for who could see Grosse play your part and not get 
a fever from vexation? Truly it was a scandal for 
the organ, * who with Mesies sat entirely alone in 
the parterre, that the Frau Rath, instead of regard- 
ing the stage, looked through her glass at the few 
Jews in the third rank, and then in the middle of the 
piece, after a couple of " ahem, ahems," got up and 
went away. . . . The honor the monarch has 
shown you rejoices me so much that I could spring 
as high as the ceiling. You know that I am no poli- 
tician, and the Emperor and the Turks, the Turks 
and the Emperor interest me as much as the man in 
the moon, But now I read the newspaper — but 



* Nickname for the Director. 



Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 167 

nothing except the article Berlin ; and then I re- 
joice when the King is in good health, when the 
Princess Elisabeth is getting well at Pyrmont, when 
the Queen lays a corner-stone, and so on. Day after 
to-morrow I shall take the play-bills with me to 
Stock's ; they will all rejoice there, man, wife, and 
children (for Ricke * and Katy always ask after you), 
also Demoiselle Marianne — Herr Graf — in one word, 
the whole pie.f I have, also, so many greetings 
for you from all your friends, who are always teas- 
ing me for news of you, in particular Friend Thurn- 
eissen. When I then have no letter for four weeks, 
I stand there like a child who cannot get beyond D. 
For the future, conduct yourself in a more exem- 
plary manner And do not forget 

Your friend, 

Elisabeth. 

83. Frau Rat J 1 to Unzelmann. 

Sent off Friday, the 1st August. 

DEAR Friend : Herewith I send you the fifth vol- 
ume of Goethe's works. Herr Goschen has taken 
great pains with the handsome binding — only it is a 
pity that the first four volumes are not, also, as ele- 
gant. I hope you will have some little joy over the 
snuff-box made new again ; it seemed to me, at 
least, very pretty ; use it in cheerful and joyous 
mind and spirit, and think sometimes of its sender 
and originator. 

I wonder at nothing so much as at the contin- 

* Fredericke. f "Mit einem Wort die ganze Pastete." 



1 68 Goethe s Mother. 

uance of my good health,; it must be of iron and 
steel. Last Saturday I suspected, at the least, that 
a fever was on the approach ; but, thanks to my good 
constitution, it transformed itself into something less 
dangerous. And the cause ? you ask. Just think, 
my Hans Zenger, the character I am so in love with 
Herr Chike plays ! ! ! So it fares with me every 
day ! Ah ! my poor hobby-horse ! It was such a 
good, kindly, harmless little creature, and now, for 
want of nourishment, is becoming as lean as the 
Pope in the Dance of Death at Basle. Your letter 
of the 22d July has again strengthened my belief — 
animated anew my hope — so great is the distance — 
so little probability is there in the matter, that / 
ever in my life see yon again, that the only thing I 
still hold to is that the remembrance of your friend 
will not be entirely extinguished ; and, as one must 
from time to time freshen a picture with varnish, 
that the colors may not entirely fade away, thus 
must our correspondence be the varnish that our 
friendship may not fade away, or quite expire. I 
comprehend very well that you have much to do, and 
willingly forego long letters, but a couple of lines 
— just a little scrawl — that can, that will you surely 
not deny your friend. That Die Geschwister have 
so well pleased in Berlin rejoiced me very much. It 
is a little piece, but just for that reason demands, on 
the part of the players, more art to set each charac- 
ter in the proper light, and to represent it with 
warmth and truth, than in a great show-piece with 
drums and fifes. But people such as these who 
appear on the play-bill sent me elevate the piece and 
do honor to the author. During the remarkable 



Frau Rath to Unzelrnann. i 69 

heat which we have also had here, I have wished 
our Main 100 times in your neighborhood. The 
bath-houses you know so well were never empty from 
five in the morning until nine in the evening ; and 
in the Main it looked like the resurrection of the 
dead. But that will yield a wine ! ! If you come 
back in 1798 — and death has the politeness to leave 
me here till then — you shall, in my house, drink my 
health in this Anno Domini, out of a beautiful, 
gilded glass — you shall also sit in your chair with the 
double cushion. Summa summarum, all shall go as 
formerly, and if, up to then, my voice does not fail, 
I will cry out as loud (as when you came from Cassel 
in 1785, the 6th September), "Are you there?" 
Last week I had my cellar put in order in the pres- 
ence of the old gentlemen* of 1706 to 1719. There 
came to mind all sorts of thoughts ; you will easily 
be able to guess all I thought, for you know well 
enough my extravagant power of imagination. It is 
now high time that I leave off, for the enemies of my 
happiness and repose are approaching, f Farewell ! 
Greet the Frau Gevatterin, and send again soon a 
scrawl to 

Your friend, ELISABETH. 

84. Frau Rath to Unzelrnann. 

The 1 2th September, 1788. 
Dear FRIEND : It is truly singular that I, who 
once was so fond of writing, who never missed a 
post-day, who would have sooner neglected anything 

* Wine-casks. f i.e., those regretful recollections. 



i 70 Goethe s Mother. 

than that, have now not put pen to paper in four 
weeks. But, dear friend, what can a woman to 
whom everything in the world has become indiffer- 
ent, who has no feeling for anything further, who in 
all her hopes has been most terribly disappointed, 
who has lost faith in mankind — what shall she write ? 
Shall I annoy others with my grief? Of what use is 
it? Shall I forever build castles in the air? trust 
anew to the will-o'-the wisp hope, in order anew to 
be deceived ? No, my beloved friend ! For me all 
is past ; with me it is over ; that it is well with you, 
that beside your other acknowledged merits you 
shine in Comic operas, gives me joy, for I have not 
yet fallen so low that the good fortune of my friend 
should not gratify me. But it is a bitter-sweet joy. 
Others reap who have not sown, and she who sowed 
the seed suffers hunger ; from the tree that I planted 
others now eat the ripe fruit. But, for heaven's 
sake! what need of this? Let it pass; so much 
has had an end ; with thee,* too, it will not last 
forever. . . . 

Blanchard is in Berlin ! three years ago he was here ! 
" Muss ich denn alles mahnen ?"f (must I then bring 
all to mind ?) says Elisabeth in Carlos. That was the 
happiest time in my whole life ; but it has flown 
away, the golden time. . . . Now farewell, 
dear friend. May your success in Berlin be very 
great, brilliant, and of firm duration. Delight me 
from time to time with good news, and believe that 



* i. e., With herself. 

f What Elizabeth says is, " O, muss mich's ewig mahnen?" 
(Oh, must I ever be reminded?) Don Carlos. Act I., scene VI. 



Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 171 

neither distance nor time will blot out your memory 
with 

Your friend, ELISABETH. 



85. Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 

The 13th (November, 1788) \ 
5 o'clock in the evening. ) 

. . . Last night I dreamed of fat lambs and great 
vats of wine. The stout Iris, as a great dreamer, 
prophesies great luck ; for the moment it is just the 
contrary. I got, last night, such a fearfully swollen 
face, and look as terrible as Azor — swallow medi- 
cine which tastes like the devil-and-his-grand- 
mother. ... 

The 16. . . . That the Frau Gevatterin is 
in such favor with the queen, delights me. Her 
majesty is said to be a great friend of the German 
theatre. There was once here such a woman, who, 
truly, was no monarch, but yet in other respects was 
a good sort of woman, and she was delighted when the 
Frau Gevatterin sat at her little, tiny little table, and 
Triune* had made the rice puffs or the jelly tarts 
good and palatable. . . . One pen is com- 
pletely blunted with writing. For this long letter 
you have to thank my monkey face ; f writing does 
me good to-day. . « . This is indeed a letter in 
the old style, % as if it were going to Cassel. All 



* Katharina. f Her swollen face. 

% We give only portions of the letter, the parts omitted being 
chiefly the theatrical gossip of the day, which has no longer any 
interest. 



172 Goethe s Mother. 

greet you and the Frau Gevatterin. I also, and 
with the assurance that I am in truth 

Your friend Elisabeth, 



86. Fran Rath to Unzelmann. 

The 19th December, 
DEAR FRIEND : Your dear letter rejoiced me very 
much, for more reasons than one ; for already rose 
up in me the thought, as if out of a black thunder- 
cloud, thou and thy name are clean forgotten. The 
more agreeably was I surprised. When one con- 
siders anything as lost, and it is unexpectedly found, 
the soul feels a kind of comfort, which does it un- 
speakable good. Only, the end of your letter really 
frightened me. You will not, after all, actually carry 
out that singular idea, and take a journey of sixty 
miles in this terrible season of the year. It would 
have no good consequences for you or for me. No 
soul either in Berlin or here would believe that you 
had undertaken the journey solely on my account ; 
but all the world must think that it did not please 
you any longer there, and that you wanted to offer 
yourself again here, and when you went away it 
would be said, accordingly, that the Direction would 
not have you ; and then stories without end would 
be fabricated. Even in Berlin they might think the 
same. Such disadvantages would such a step have on 
your side. And now not even to mention all that 
would be reported in regard to me. Do you think, 
then, that such another leave-taking would be a balm 
to me ? No, dear friend, such a scene I would not 
have again ! If fate wills it that I should see you 



Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 173 

again, it must occur in the old way ; otherwise I 
humbly decline it. In the anxiety of my heart I 
send this letter by the flying post, and earnestly beg 
you to set me at ease by just the two words " I stay 
where I am)." Everything concerning theatrical 
matters I send you next week. That the Frau Ge- 
vatterin has carried off the victory over Frau Will- 
mann was not unexpected to me : the public here 
thought so, and the players too. . . . Ay, ay, 
to what great honor has my mantle attained ! to 
adorn the very shoulders and loins of an emperor. 
What may not become of things when they get into 
the right hands : with me it would have remained in 
obscurity, while, on the other hand, its present 
possessor has brought it to fame and honor. 
If your little son in Mainz gets through his illness 
it will be a wonder ; he has the small-pox so prodig- 
iously that the whole child is one pock ; but he has, 
by my order, a doctor, and all possible care ; you 
can, therefore, be easy about him. My health has 
begun to go up-hill again ; only on account of the 
Siberian cold my physician has forbidden me to go 
out. Farewell, and answer me speedily — that you 
accept good advice, and will remain where you are. 
Once more, thanks for your good letter. 
From your friend 

Elisabeth. 

Give little Carl a smack from me, and teach him 
my name, so that when he comes back here it may 
not be strange to him. 



1 74 Goethe s Mother. 

87. Fran Rath to FriedricJi von Stein. 

Fr., the 2d January, 1789. 
Dear Son : I am very glad that the little Christ- 
mas present gave you pleasure. Have the kindness 
to give best thanks in my name to Herren Wieland, 
Bertuch, and Krause for the Mercury and the Jour- 
nal of Fashion ; only, I must remind them that the 
Mercury for December, 1788, has not yet been sent 
me. Do me the favor to see that I get it, otherwise 
last year's series will be incomplete. We live here in 
expectation of what is to come : the Main has not 
yet broken up, and all are apprehensive of a flood. 
We still remember 1782, but we must patiently abide 
the result ; 15 weeks already has the old gentleman 
been shut up. Every one awaits anxiously the firing 
of the cannons, for that is the signal that it is break- 
ing up. If it happens in the daytime, all who have 
sound legs run to see, and it is truly a terrible sight. 
I wish you could see it with us. For the rest, every- 
thing goes on here its usual way — Mondays a ball ; 
Fridays a concert ; Tuesdays, Thursdays, and 
Saturdays, the play ; not, however, by our former 
company, but Koberwein, from Strassburg, plays 
until the beginning of Lent. The company is very 
ordinary, but the ballet is really pretty. My greatest 
hobby now is playing upon the harpsichord ; it makes 
me very happy. Farewell, and think sometimes of 
Your true friend, E. G. 

88. Frau Rath to her Grandchildren. 

The 23d February, 1789. 
Dear, dear, good, excellent Grandchil- 
dren : Oh what joy you have caused me ! and it 



Frau Rath to her Grandchildren. 1 75 

all came so very unexpectedly ! Dear Louisa, it 
was as if you had known that I was in great need of 
a knitting-bag — my very best one is 9 years old, and 
as inelegant as possible ; and as I very often have 
occasion to go into company where work is done, it 
was highly necessary to procure a new one ; and here 
comes one, so entirely by chance — a fine, handsome 
one, made by my dear grandchild — no other one 
could have been so precious to me. But this one I 
shall indeed hold in honor : tell all my acquaintances 
from whom it comes, and be proud of my clever and 
industrious grandchild. Receive, then, my best 
thanks for it. My dear Julia, I thank thee, too, for 
thy prettily-worked present ; it shall also be paraded 
in thy remembrance, that every one may see that 
thou, too, dear Juliette, thinkest of thy grandmother. 
And my dear Jettchen,* with her pretty little bas- 
ket, as neat as could possibly be made — potz ficker- 
ment ! Grandmother must now be industrious, and, 
N.B., make also pretty work, such as will suit so 
elegant a basket. I will, at least, do my very ut- 
most not to put it to shame. I thank thee herewith 
heartily for thy love for grandmother. 

Faithful, staunch knight Edward ! Thou, too, 
thinkest of me. Ah, out of this glass it tastes good ; 
I drank at once my dear knight's health, and shall 
often do so : thanks, thanks, thanks, dear Edward. 
The stout Catharine asks every day if Edward and 
Jettgen are coming very soon. She would be too 
glad to look on with them at guard-mounting ; and 

* Henrietta. 



i 76 Goethe s Mother. 

Elisabeth * would like once more to make baked 
puddings. Come again very soon ; dost thou hear ? 
Now, dear grandchildren, once more my thanks ; 
continue further to give joy to your dear parents and 
to me, and believe that I ever, from my whole heart, 
am 

Your tenderly loving grandmother, 

Elisabeth Goethe. 



89. Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 

Sent off the 9th March, 1789. 
Dear Friend : When you have written, sealed, 
and sent off your letters, it is just as if you had drunk 
out of the river Lethe : all is so cleanly wiped out of 
your memory that not a trace of it remains behind ; 
for how were it possible otherwise, that you should 
be hurt at the expression master-stroke, \ which says 
and expresses nothing different from what you your- 
self have said, and expressed in all your letters. Am 
I, perchance, to condole with you because you and 
the Frau Gevatterin have the greatest success ? be- 
cause the latter is the favorite of one of the greatest 
Queens ? because she ousts everybody ? because the 
King himself has said that she sings better than 

* Elizabeth Hoch, who lived with the Frau Rath many years, 
and was with her at her death. Of Goethe she always spoke 
as " unser junger Herr " (our young master). She was assigned a 
place of honor at the unveiling of the statue of Goethe at Frankfort 
in 1844. She died in 1846, in her 87th year. 

f In a previous letter, which is not given because it was not 
important, the Frau Rath had said, " the going away from here 
was a master-stroke." 



Frail Rath to Unzelmann. 177 

W., and the latter had to withdraw in disgrace, and 
abandon the scene of action ? because, when the play 
was in Potsdam, the King presented 900 thalers to 
the cash-box (N. B. , " for me and the Gevatterin ' ' you 
write) because you have had a benefit-concert where 
(according to the newspaper reports) the King gave 
40 Friedrichs d'or, the Queen 10, and, besides that, 
the house was crammed full ? because you,' worthy 
friend, in Fiesco and other parts, have been applauded 
by the King ? and more of the like. All this surely 
deserves no jeremiads ! The Frau Gevatterin wrote, 
too (not to me, for what should induce her to do that ?) 
but to St., that she was treated with the greatest 
affection, and that this was her amends for the 
sufferings of the last 3 years passed Jiere, and so on. 
Oh, how happy (thought I, amid all these splendid 
tidings) must these good people now be : with shud- 
dering must they reflect upon their residence here, 
where envy, intrigue, neglect embittered their days. 
Since these above-narrated events are not tittle-tattle 
from others, but actual facts from their own letters, 
it is impossible for me to retract my opinion ; but I 
maintain against every one, who ever he may be, that 
the leaving here and going to Berlin was — a master- 
stroke. That you vexed yourself over my poor let- 
ters I do not at all comprehend ; but may I yet ven- 
ture, without giving offence, to ask after my own 
things ? especially as they are of no use to you : of 
what service to you is one part of the German 
Mercury ? and it makes my whole collection incom- 
plete. And what has the saddler at Mainz to do with 
my furniture — what is it to him ? Have the kindness 
(but don't get vexed) to send me the Mercury, and 



178 Goethe s Mother. 

give me instructions for Mainz, while the company is 
still there. Those must truly be strange things which 
should give you the right not to hold to your con- 
tract ; as I cannot penetrate into this secret, it is out 
of my power to judge of it, only I beg and beseech 
you, out of old friendship, take no rash step, for re- 
pentance after an act avails nothing, and is the most 
painful of all feelings. You would come here? 
Why ? for what purpose ? Is, then, your engagement 
in Mainz so certain already that you need only to 
come ? and if it were so, has the company, then, so 
changed within the year ? As far as I know, all the 
hateful people who drove you away from here are 
still there, and remains there beside. What in all the 
world is the matter with you all at once ? — out of par- 
adise back into purgatory : let anybody versify me 
that ! Well, well, it was a sudden freak of ill- 
humor, which will, no doubt, subside. Is it not so, I 
have divined it ? There will again come model let- 
ters, corresponding to the previous ones, over which 
your friends can rejoice. Goschen is a 1 . . . d.* 
Here he sends the 8th volume again, bound in paper 
like the first 4 parts : what folly has seized him to. 
have the 5th part so splendidly bound ? But he shall 
catch it : I have sent an epistle to the proper place, 
and have made a strong complaint of this unexem- 
plary behavior. I hope that this part will procure you 
some happy hours. How has the Devil's Opera, my 
favorite piece, been received ? It would have been 
truly a great misfortune if you had cut out Herr C.'s 
eye. He is said to be a very handsome man, and 

* Lumpenhund (ragamuffin). 



Frau Rat J i to Loitisa ScJdosser. i 79 

to have a lady passionately in love with him ; she 
would have paid you for it finely. . . 

Your friend ELISABETH. 



90. Frau Rath to Louisa ScJdosser. 

The 14th October, 1789. 
DEAR LOUISA : I am very glad that the book 
sent gave thee joy, and I wish nothing so much as 
always to be able to provide some little pleasure for 
thee and thy dear sisters. The Fraiileins von 
Clermont are very nice children ; but I saw them 
for too short, a time, and had too little intercourse 
with them to decide which one pleased me best. 
They remembered their stay with you all with much 
pleasure, and told me much that was dear and good 
of you all, which was very gratifying to me. My 
best and heartiest greeting to Aunt Bogner ; and the 
book asked for, I will see if it can be had, and send 
it. I am very much pleased that thou esteemest so 
highly my well-meant but badly-scrawled letter, and 
that thou keepest it so carefully. For writing is not 
precisely my forte, and my letters, if I do not give 
very special attention to them, have very often 
neither form nor skill ; so much the more it flatters 
me that thou esteemest them so much as to keep 
them. Yes, if I wrote as well as my Louisa — Potz 
Fischen ! then all Christendom should have letters 
from me. Well, well, each one has his own peculiar 
gift ; and if I were with you all in the long winter 
evenings I would surely let my light shine, and make 
your time so pass away with pleasant stories and 
pretty legends that there should be nothing like it. 



i So Goethe s Mother. 

Now I hav T e still to write to dear Julia, so farewell 
for this time, and hold dear 
Thy faithful grandmother, 

Elisabeth Goethe. 



91. Fran Rath to Fricdrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 1st March, 1790. 
DEAR SON : The first thing I beg of you is to 
thank my son for his 6th volume. Tasso and Lilla 
are new to me, and I hope to have much pleasure 
from them. Inform him, further, that his Roman 
Carnival has been represented with ail splendor at a 
Court-ball in Mainz ; this intelligence Mamma La 
Roche sends him with her hearty compliments. The 
Emperor's* death has made our city a living grave : 
the ringing of all the bells, which takes place twice 
a day for four weeks— namely, in the morning from 
11 to 12, and the evening from 5 to 6 o'clock — has 
such a lugubrious tone that one has to cry whether 
one would or not. The whole magistracy is in deep 
mourning ; the garrison black, everything wound 
with crape ; the imperial recruiting officers, the 
councillors, ambassadors, and so on, all, all black ; it 
has an exceedingly mournful appearance. Next 
Sunday, the 7th March, there is to be a funeral ser- 
mon in all the churches of the three religions ; the 
cathedral is to be entirely hung in black ; young and 
old to appear in deep mourning ; singers are en- 
gaged for the funeral mass, and this single item costs 
2000 florins. Should the future coronation draw 

* Joseph II. 



Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 1 8 1 

near, you know where your place is. I have, also, 
for that time a plan in my head which it is too early 
yet and inopportune to communicate. If I live to see 
it — well, with time comes counsel. Give my re- 
spects to your mother, and believe that I am ever- 
more 

Your true friend, E. G. 



92. Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 

Fr., the 22d April, 1790. 
DEAR Son : I have a request : one of my friends 
would be glad to know if his Serene Highness the 
Duke is in Weimar, or where he may be ; two lines 
of reply is all that is necessary. But I should be 
quite as glad to know where my son is. Some say in 
Venice, others in Switzerland. Now a few words of 
myself and my country. The mourning for the Em- 
peror is over : all are in expectation of what is to 
come. If there should be war, as is reported, then 
God knows when the coronation will be ! Mean- 
while the quarters are already being arranged, and 
the Ascent* is in July. I will await it all with 
patience, and a little room shall be kept for you ; 
for the show you must surely see with us. Com- 
mend me to your mother, and believe that I am, un- 
changeably, 

Your faithful mother, E. G. 



* The ascent was a formal procession of the Ambassadors 
and Imperial Commissioners, in great pomp, to the Romer or 
Imperial Hall in Frankfort, to arrange the preliminaries for the 
election of an Emperor. 



1 82 Goethe s Mother. 

93. Frau Rath to Unzelmann. 

ESTEEMED Herr Gevatter : As I know by ex- 
perience that it is your method, way, and manner to 
offer the skin for sale before you have the bear, I 
therefore consider myself bound out of friendship to 
place our situation here so clearly and plainly before 
your eyes that you may be in a position to reflect 
maturely upon the matter, in order not to bring 
yourself anew to detriment, vexation, and disgust. 
Koch remains from to-day's date, nth, say eleven 
years longer. He does not play young parts any more, 
but has relinquished them to Porsch and Ziegler. In 
fathers, pedants, heroes, who do not precisely require 
to be young, he pleases, and is in favor (which is the 
best) with Herr von Dahlberg ; will, therefore, hardly 
leave. A national theatre here is not to be thought 
of ; as long as the authorities forbid the play dur- 
ing Advent and Lent, any such thing is a vain wish 
which cannot be fulfilled. The greatest obstacle 
(setting aside those above-mentioned) to ever seeing 
you here again is, truly, that Dahlberg is still very 
angry with you ; and I know from a sure source that 
whether you come back sooner or later, punishment 
awaits you. How is it, then, credible that he will in- 
vite you back here ? Do not, therefore, sit down 
again between two stools ; and begin, for once, to re- 
flect before you act. But by all means tell me how 
it comes to pass that you want to be off again. Your 
first letter, as well as those from the Frau Gevatterin, 
were all so full of rapture, jubilation, shouts of joy, 
royal favor, and so on. We poor wretches, with all 
our proven friendship, services rendered, and good 



Frau Rath to Friedrich von Stein. 183 

will, fell into the background as utterly unimportant 
figures, so that the strongest eye could not perceive 
us ! You might, at least, out of delicacy, not have 
painted up your paradise so exquisitely, and have then 
rather kept silent about the amends for the 3 years 
of misery (as the Frau Gevatterin expressed herself 
in a letter). Be assured that this trumpet-tone hurt 
your friends very much ; but all this aside. God 
grant you many more happy days, although they 
may not be passed with us ; yet the world is large, 
and God's heaven over all, and your mutual talents 
find everywhere success. Greet your dear wife, the 
little singer Carl, the little girl, from 

Your Gevatterin, who means it sincerely, 

Elisabeth. 

The nth May, 1790. 

P.S. The poor organ gave the enterprise up to D. 
at precisely the wrong time. The coronation would 
have extricated him from all difficulties. In July is 
the first Ascent for the election ; * that is a great 
spectacle. My house will be crammed full from top 
to bottom. 



94. Fraa Rath to FriedricJi von Stein. 

Fr., the 1 2th June, 1790. 
Dear Sox : It is nearly impossible to determine 
how much a residence here during the coronation 
would cost ; so much is certain, that a single room 
will cost a carolin a day, and board for a day cer- 
tainly not under a crown-piece. Besides, it is also a 

* " Auffahrt zur Wahl." See preceding note. 



184 Goethe s Mother. 

question whether a cavalier, who is not in the train 
of an Electoral Ambassador, could get a room, for 
our best inns are being let entire. Dick in the Red 
House has already been offered 30,000 florins, but 
he will not yet give it for that. If Leopold should 
be Emperor, God knows where all the people will 
find room ; for, in that case, ambassadors come who 
strictly do not belong to the coronation, such as the 
Spanish, Neapolitan, one from Sicily, and so on. The 
Papal Ambassador has hired a country house for 3000 
carolin, because he could find no place in the town. 
The persons who choose the quarters have not yet 
been to my house, consequently I do not venture 
outside the door, and in this splendid, heavenly 
weather, sit, as it were, in the Bastille. If they 
should find me absent they might take the whole 
house, for these gentlemen are deuced quick at 
taking, and when they have once marked the rooms 
I would not advise any one to dispose of them in any 
other manner. Now I must tell you something more 
that is amusing. Last winter there was no ice here, 
and the polite world had to go without this luxury ; 
one man only, named T — , has a pit full still from 
the year '88. This pit is about as large as my sitting- 
room, but only 3 feet high. The Elector of Cologne 
has offered this man 19,000 florins, but he will not 
sell for less than 30,000 florins. Oh, if I only had 
ice now instead of wine ! If the coronation is not 
delayed until winter : I am anxious and uneasy 
about it ; but we must wait with patience. You will 
certainly come with my son ? You shall have a 
room ; but it is true you must content yourself 
should it be three flights up. What would that mat- 



The Mecklenbcrg Princesses. 185 

ter? we will be merry for all that. In this agreeable 
expectation, I remain as always, 

Your faithful friend, E. G. 



The Frau Rath, as the daughter of a chief magis- 
trate of Frankfort, and having always relatives in the 
magistracy, had her privileged place for witnessing 
the various election and coronation ceremonies. A 
little window in the Romer, near the clock, is still 
pointed out as the spot whence she looked out on 
the pomp and parade of the five coronations which 
occurred during her lifetime. 

On this occasion there were assigned to her as 
guests two Mecklenburg princesses, nieces of Queen 
Charlotte of England. One of them was the after- 
ward so celebrated Queen Louisa of Prussia. The 
other took for her third husband a son of George III. , 
the Duke of Cumberland, who, later, became King 
of Hanover. 

These princesses were then young girls, and the 
Frau Rath was only too happy to see youthful faces 
about her. Delighted to be freed from the restraints 
of court-etiquette, they looked eagerly about them 
for amusement, and, spying the pump in the court- 
yard, begged to be allowed the fun of pumping 
water. The permission was readily granted, and the 
future queens were joyously at work when the cir- 
cumstance came to the knowledge of their governess. 
Horror and consternation were the natural feelings 
of a right-minded governess in such an emergency, 
and she hastened to put a stop to such unprincess- 
like behavior. But here the Frau Rath was in her 



186 Goethe s Mother. 

element : she had stood for years between her own 
children and their stern, exacting father ; to fly into 
the breach between youth and authority had been 
for years her daily life ; she confronted the governess 
with all the arguments she could think of — she beg- 
ged, she coaxed, she wheedled — but finding every- 
thing ineffectual, she quietly pushed the governess 
into her room and locked her in. " For," she said, 
" I would have brought down on my head the 
greatest annoyance sooner than that they should have 
been disturbed in their innocent diversion, which 
was permitted them nowhere except in my house." 

95. Frau Rath to Fricdricli von Stein. 

Fr., the 20th December, 1790. 
Dear Son : After the great confusion which we 
had here, it is now as still as death. It is very agree- 
able to me, for now I can let my hobby-horses gal- 
lop so much the more quietly. I have four of them, 
of which one is as dear to me as the other, and I 
often do not know which shall come first in order. 
Sometimes it is making Brabant lace, which I have 
learned in my old age, and take a childish pleasur.e 
in it ; then comes the harpsichord, then reading, 
and lastly, chess, long given up, and now brought 
out again. The Countess of Isenburg, who lodges in 
my house, takes also great pleasure in the above- 
named game ; evenings when we are both at home, 
which, thank God, is often the case, we play, and 
forget the whole world, and amuse ourselves royally. 
Since it is now customary that at the end of the year 
a number of the Mercury shall always be missing, 



Friedrich von Stein. 187 

there is lacking for this time No. 2. Pray, ask dear 
Gevatter Wieland to have it sent to me ; thank him, 
too, for all the friendship shown me anew during this 
year ; and you, dear son, receive my hearty thanks 
for all your love, and believe that I am ever and al- 
ways, in truth, 

Your true friend and mother, E. G. 



The above is the last letter to Friedrich von Stein 
in the collection edited by Drs. Ebers and Kahlert. 

In the spring of 1791 von Stein went to the Uni- 
versity at Jena, and, possibly, his correspondence 
with the Frau Rath ceased at this time. At Jena 
von Stein lived with the Schillers. Charlotte von 
Lengfeld (Schiller's wife) had been one of the friends 
and correspondents of his youth, the two families of 
von Stein and von Lengfeld, having been very in- 
timate ; so that when von Stein went to Jena the 
Schillers received him into their own house. Later 
he made a journey to Hamburg and England, and 
on his return went to Silesia. At this time we find 
an interesting notice of him in the Schiller- Korner 
Correspondence. On the 3d of July, 1795, Schiller 
writes to Korner : " The young Herr von Stein will 
shortly visit thee in Dresden. The Duke sends him 
for several years to Breslau, to study the adminis- 
tration of finances, and fit himself for president of 
the exchequer at Weimar. He is an assistant at the 
Board of Finances in Weimar. You all will find in 
him a young man of attainments and a very excel- 
lent fellow." 

On the 6th of November Korner replies : " Stein 



1 88 Goethe s Mother. 

has been here, and made a very agreeable impression 
upon us. There is nothing in his entire nature to 
inspire one with enthusiasm for him, except a certain 
symmetrical harmony which is as agreeable to the 
feelings as beautiful architectural proportions to the 
eye. He is natural, easy, cheerful, sensible, without 
betraying any marked ability ; is open to impres- 
sions, but without a trace of enthusiasm, and yet 
has a certain warmth of feeling, of the degree of 
which one cannot judge on a short acquaintance. 
Thou hast known him longer, and must be aware 
whether anything remarkable in any particular line 
is to be expected of him. Or was this, perhaps, not 
the aim in his education ? 

" Was he only to be educated to be a man ? Were 
his impulses, generally speaking, never impetuous ? 
Or have they had the skill to modify them by some 
counter action ? Whatever thou canst write me 
about the education of this man is interesting to me. 
I have attentively observed him as a pedagogical 
work of art." 

Schiller then writes that Korner's remarks have 
interested Goethe. " It was, in fact, Goethe who 
directed his entire education, and took for his aim to 
make him thoroughly objective.* Stein has always 
had a very salutary influence on me, and he has, at 
times, actually put me out of conceit with what is 
called being genial, f because without a trace of this 
quality he is so good and estimable. It is true such 



* Or, "to make the objective prevail in his character" (Simp- 
son's translation of the Schiller and Korner Correspondence), 
f " Genialitat." 



Frau Rath to Louisa ScJilosser 189 

men would only be able to maintain the world as it 
is, but not to advance it any farther." 

Von Stein eventually, with the acquiescence of the 
Duke Carl August, accepted a permanent appoint- 
ment from the Prussian Government, and remained 
in Breslau, where he married, and occupied a promi- 
nent position. In the correspondence of Goethe 
with Frau von Stein, his mother, he is often alluded 
to, and seems not infrequently to have visited Wei- 
mar. He died at Breslau in 1844. 



96. Frau Rath to Louisa ScJilosser. 

Dear, good, excellent Louisa : A thousand 
thanks for thy pretty, tasteful, and, withal, superb 
work-table. There is none such in Frankfort. It is, 
for this reason, being carried about to be shown from 
house to house : to day it is at Frau Stock's, and I 
rejoice in anticipation of how, this afternoon, my 
clever Louisa will be praised and lauded in my pres- 
ence by old and young. As soon as it was unpacked 
I carried it to my Countess, who lodges in the 
house. I had to leave it up there the whole day, so 
that she might show it to the persons of rank who 
came to visit her. They all fell in love with it, and 
each one would be glad to have such a handsome 
piece of furniture in her best room. I was envied by 
all on account of my clever grandchild, which made 
me very happy. Accept, then, once more, my thanks 
for it. Next week a box full of cakes and other bon- 
bons shall rejoice your hearts. Tell thy father he 
shall have the account also, next week. Greet heartily 
thy dear mother, as well as thy brother and sisters, 



190 Goethe s Mother. 

the dear Bogner, and Charlotte. Farewell ! Hold 
her dear, and in good remembrance, who is and re- 
mains 

Thy faithful grandmother, 

Elisabeth Goethe. 
The 1st May, 1791. 

97. Frau Rath to Louisa ScJdosser. 

The 8th January, 1792. 
Dear LOUISA : It rejoices me very much indeed 
that I have contributed in anything to thy happi- 
ness. My wish is always to give pleasure to all of 
you dear ones, and when this end is attained I feel 
very happy. For this same reason I am always sorry 
when I cannot gratify thy desire, my dear Louisa. 
I have given myself all conceivable pains, have 
asked all judges and lovers of music, but no one can 
give me any information of the Ariadne in the form 
thou desirest it. Should I yet be so fortunate as to 
find the work, thou shalt certainly have it at once. 
I am glad that thou and dear Ciarchen love each 
other so well. Guard this friendship in your hearts, 
for it is a precious thing thus to wander through our 
earthly life with a tried friend. In my youth it was 
to me also a great joy, at New Year's, to hear sing- 
ing, drumming, and fifing ; but now my bed is dearer 
to me. At half-past nine, this time, I was already so 
sound asleep that neither the watchman with his 
friendly voice, nor fifing and drumming disturbed 
me amid my 7 pillows. Although I was not present 
in body with you all, yet I wished you all the con- 
tinuance of your well-being, together with prosper- 



Goethe s " Campaign in France? 191 

ity, happiness, and blessing ; and may this be re- 
peated once more herewith. Farewell ! Hold dear 
Thy loving grandmother, 

Elisabeth Goethe. 



Letter 98 is Goethe's reply to the inquiry from 
his mother whether he would accept a seat in the 
Frankfort Town Council, which had been left vacant 
by the death of his Uncle Textor. His mother's let- 
ter reached him at Treves, as he was with difficulty 
wending his way back from the Duke of Brunswick's 
disastrous campaign in France, whither Goethe had 
accompanied the Duke of Saxe-Weimar, who com- 
manded a Prussian regiment. The letter acquires a 
further interest when placed side by side with the 
following passage from Goethe's "Campaign in 
France," where he so glowingly depicts the varied 
emotions called up by the honor proffered him : 

Treves, the 28th October (1792). 
Now when we found ourselves again on Ger- 
man ground, and might hope to extricate ourselves 
from the great confusion, information reached us of 
Custine's audacious and successful exploits. The 
great magazine at Spires had fallen into his hands, 
and thereupon he had found means to bring about 
the surrender of Mainz. These steps seemed to 
bring with them innumerable ills ; they indicated an 
extraordinary mind, as sagacious as it was daring, 
and, in that case, all was lost. Nothing seemed more 
probable and natural than that Coblence should al- 



192 Goethe s Mother. 

ready have been occupied by the French ; and how 
were we to make our retreat ? Frankfort likewise 
we gave up in thought ; * Hanau and Aschaffenburg 
on the one hand, Cassel on the other, we saw threat- 
ened, and, altogether, what might not be appre- 
hended ; the neighboring princes were paralyzed by 
the system of neutrality, and this made the masses, 
who were already seized with the revolutionary ideas, 
so much the more animated and active. Would not 
the whole district and the neighboring provinces be 
prepared for these ideas, just as Mainz had been 
worked upon, and prompt advantage taken of those 
ideas which had been already developed ? All this 
was necessarily thought of and discussed. 

I heard it often repeated : Would the French, with- 
out great deliberation and precaution, without a 
strong force, have taken such important steps ? Cus- 
tine's actions seemed as bold as they were cautious : 
one fancied him, his associates, his superiors, as pru- 
dent, energetic, sagacious men. The emergency was 
a great and perplexing one ; without question, the 
greatest of all the sufferings and anxieties yet ex- 
perienced. 

Amid this misery and confusion there reached 
me a retarded letter from my mother, which in a 
strange manner recalled the circumstances of my 
peaceful youth, and my relations to my home and 
to my native city. My uncle, Alderman Textor, 
had died, whose near relationship had during his life- 
time excluded f me from the honorable and influen- 



* Frankfort had been already occupied by Custine. 

f But one member of a family was eligible to the Council. 



Goethe s " Campaign in France? 193 

tial position of a Frankfort Councillor ; and now, in 
accordance with the established and laudable cus- 
tom, they thought immediately of me, I being pretty 
far advanced among the Frankfort graduates. 

My mother had been commissioned to ask of me 
whether I would accept the office of Councillor if, 
having been chosen among those to be balloted for, 
the golden ball should fall to me ? Such an inquiry 
could have hardly arrived at a more singular time 
than the present. I was taken by surprise, and 
thrown back upon myself ; a thousand images rose 
before me, and would not allow me to collect my 
thoughts ; but as a sick man or a prisoner forgets 
himself for a while over some story that is related to 
him, so was I transferred to other spheres and other 
times. 

I found myself in my grandfather's garden, 
where the espaliers, richly laden with peaches, were 
wont to tempt the grandson's longing appetite ; and 
only the threat of banishment from this paradise, 
only the hope of receiving the ripest, reddest- 
cheeked fruit from the benevolent grandfather's own 
hand, could in some degree restrain the longing until 
the proper time. Then I saw the venerable old 
man busied with his roses, and how he carefully pro- 
tected his hands against the thorns with the antique 
gloves, brought as tribute from cities freed from tax- 
ation ; like the noble Laertes, and yet not like him, 1 
filled with sorrow and longing. Then I saw him in 
his robes as Schultheiss,* with the golden chain, 
sitting on the throne under the Emperor's portrait ; 

* Chief Magistrate. 



194 Goethe s Mother. 

again, alas ! a few years in half consciousness in the 
invalid's chair, and finally in the coffin. 

The last time I had passed through Frankfort 
I had found my uncle in possession of the house, 
court, and garden ; as a worthy son he had, like his 
father, mounted to the loftier positions under the 
constitution of this free city. Here, in this familiar 
family-circle, in this unchanged, well-known place, 
these boyhood recollections were vividly called forth, 
and presented themselves with new force before me. 
With them were associated other youthful ideas 
which I must not conceal. What citizen of a free 
city will deny that he, sooner or later, has had in view 
the office of Councillor, Alderman, or Burgomaster, 
and to the best of his ability diligently and carefully 
striven to attain to them, or perhaps to less impor- 
tant positions ? For the pleasing thought of some day 
taking part in the government is early awakened in 
the breast of every republican, and more actively and 
proudly still in the soul of a boy. 

But I could not long give myself up to these 
pleasing dreams of my childhood ; aroused but too 
soon, I viewed the ominous locality about me, the 
melancholy surroundings which hemmed me in, and, 
at the same time, the clouded, darkened outlook 
toward my native town. Mainz in the hands of the 
French ; Frankfort threatened, if not already taken, 
the way to it obstructed ; and within those walls, 
streets, squares, dwellings, the friends of my youth, 
my kindred, perhaps already overtaken by the same 
misfortunes from which I had seen Longwy and Ver- 
dun so cruelly suffer — who would have dared to rush 
headlong into the midst of such a state of things? 



Goethe's " Campaign in France? 195 

But even in the happiest days of that venerable 
corporation it would have been impossible for me to 
accede to this proposal, the reasons for which were 
easily explained. For twelve years I had enjoyed a 
singular good fortune in the confidence and indul- 
gence of the Duke of Weimar. This highly gifted 
and cultivated prince was content to accept my well- 
meant, often inadequate services, and gave me such 
opportunity to develop myself as would have been 
possible under no other circumstances in my native 
country. My gratitude was boundless, as well as my 
attachment to the august ladies, his consort and his 
mother, to his young family, and to a country to 
which I had been of some service. Then, had I not 
also to remember that circle of newly acquired, highly 
cultivated friends, as well as so many other domes- 
tic joys and blessings that had sprung from the per- 
manent character of my position? These images and 
feelings, called up by this occurrence, cheered me, at 
once, at a most gloomy moment ; for you are already 
half-saved if from the mournfullest situation in a 
strange land you are roused to cast a hopeful glance 
toward the safe home ; thus may we enjoy here on 
earth what is promised us beyond the spheres. 

In this mood I began the letter to my mother, 
and although these motives seemed at first to rest on 
personal feeling and comfort and my own individual 
advantage, yet I had others to add to them, relating 
to the welfare of my native city, such as might con- 
vince my well-wishers there. For how could I prove 
myself actively useful, in that very peculiar sphere, 
for which, perhaps, more than for any other, one 
needed to be carefully trained ? I had for so many 



196 Goethe s Mother. 

years become accustomed to employments adapted 
to my capacity, and which were of a nature such as 
would hardly be required for the needs and purposes 
of a city government. Nay, I could further add that 
if only burghers could properly be received to the 
Council, I had now become such a stranger to that 
position that I might fully be considered as a for- 
eigner. All this, with my thanks, I made known to 
my mother, who, indeed, hardly expected anything 
different. It must truly have been late enough ere 
this letter reached her. 



98. Goethe to his Mother. 

The hope, beloved mother, of soon seeing you 
again, and my valued Frankfort friends, has now van- 
ished, as the state of affairs obliged me to return to 
Weimar from Diisseldorf by way of Paderborn and 
Cassel. 

How much anxiety I have had, till now, on your 
account ! how much deplored the position in which 
my fellow-countrymen are placed ! But how much, 
also, have I admired their demeanor in the midst of 
circumstances so critical. Certainly nothing could 
have been more flattering to me than the inquiry 
whether I could decide to accept the position of 
Councillor, should the lot fall to me — an inquiry 
which reached me at a moment when in the eyes of 
all Europe, nay, of the whole world, it is an honor to 
have been born a citizen of Frankfort. 

The friends of my youth, whom I had always so 
much cause to value, could give me no nobler proof 



Goethe to his Mother. 197 

of their continued remembrance than their holding 
me worthy of taking a part in the administration of 
the commonwealth at this important epoch. 

Your letter, which I received in the midst of the 
tumult of war, cheered the sad hours I had to pass 
through, and from the situation of affairs I could 
hope in a short time to see again my loved native 
town. 

In that case it was my intention to express by 
word of mouth my thanks for the signal honor done 
me, and, at the same time, circumstantially and 
frankly to explain the position in which at present I 
am placed. 

With the irresistible predilection which every 
right-thinking man feels for his native country, it 
would be a painful sacrifice for me to decline an office 
that every citizen accepts with joy, and that espe- 
cially at the present time it would be his duty to ac- 
cept, were I not, on the other hand, placed here in 
such happy relations, which I may well say are favor- 
able beyond my deserts. His Highness the Duke 
has treated me for so many years with distinguished 
favor, and I am indebted to him for so much, that it 
would be the greatest ingratitude to leave my post 
at a moment when the state is most in need of faith- 
ful servants. 

I therefore beg you to thank in the warmest man- 
ner the estimable men who manifest toward me such 
friendly sentiments. Assure them of my sincere ac- 
knowledgments, and endeavor to preserve for me 
their confidence for the future. 

As soon as the state of affairs in any way permits, 
I shall do justice to the feelings of my heart, and 



198 Goethe s Mother, 

circumstantially and by word of mouth express what 
could only be imperfectly said in this letter. May 
all that gives present anxiety to my honored fellow- 
citizens continue to be far from them, and the desired 
peace appear again for us all. Farewell. 

Goethe. 
Weimar, the 24th Dec, 1792. 

99. Fran Rath to her Grandchildren. 

The last day in the year, 1792. 
Dear Grandchildren : This letter is to you all. 
Time would fail me to answer singly each one of your 
dear letters, and you would have to wait long for my 
thanks for the joy you have caused me by your dear 
and affectionate letters. Dear children, the Christ- 
mas present cannot possibly have caused you more 
joy than your letters gave me. Say yourselves, 
what could be to me more comforting and refreshing 
than to have grandchildren who conduct themselves 
toward me so gratefully, who remember me with so 
much love, who in spite of the distance between us 
so warmly love and honor me. Dear grandchildren, 
give me as much joy in the coming year as in that 
which is approaching its end. Keep me in good re- 
membrance. In this year too, as you grow in age, 
grow also more and more in everything which may 
rejoice your dear parents, me, and all good people. 
Thus God will bless you, and all who know you will 
love and cherish you, and especially she who con- 
stantly was, is, and remains, 

Your heartily loving grandmother, 

Elisabeth Goethe. 



Frail, Rath to Unzelmann. 199 

100. Fran Rath to Unzelmann. 

The 22d January, 1793. 
ESTEEMED Herr Gevatter : My friend and I 
thank you for the pretty New Year's remembrance ; 
only we would have wished to learn somewhat more 
about your health and welfare. As we are con- 
vinced that you are now in the most fortunate pe- 
riod of your life, may this year increase further (if it 
be possible) your happiness : this is the most sin- 
cere wish of us both. You will know our situation 
from the newspapers.* The Prussians and Hes- 
sians are in winter-quarters here. His Majesty of 
Prussia is in the best of health. I have the pleasure 
of seeing his Highness every day at the play, as my 
box is directly opposite him. . . . Our theatre 
has lived to see good times — the coronation ; now 
the many princes, generals, officers, and, above all, 
the King of Prussia. . . . Farewell, and be 
happy. This will ever rejoice 

Your Gevaterin, E. G. 



There are no further letters to Unzelmann of any 
interest in Dr. Dorow's " Reminiscenzen." The 
Unzelmanns continued their successful career in Ber- 
lin, and Madame Unzelmann shone in the brilliant 
circle which a few years later gathered about 
Rahel. In " Rahel Levin and her Society Toward 

* The advance of the Prussians had made it impossible for 
Custine to remain in an open town like Frankfort, and he had 
fallen back upon the fortified post of Mainz. 



200 Goethe s Mother, 

the End of the Year 1801, from the Papers of 
Count S — j'"* we find the following : 

. . . " The door opened, and a rapidly moving, 
most engaging lady burst in, pushed on to Mile. 
Levin with a merry laugh, and rather fell into than 
seated herself on the chair beside her. All greeted 
her with joy. 

' But how is this ? ' began Mile. Levin ; ' is not 
to-day " Maria Stuart" ? and I believe you are — ' 

"'Yes, believe as much as you like/ put in the 
charming, sprightly woman. ' Mortimer is ill, and 
so Iffland brings forward in all haste another piece, in 
which I have nothing to do ; I avail myself of it, and 
come to you, and if you want me I am going to stay 
the whole evening.' 

Capital ! ' cried out Mile. Levin, ' and how you 
hit it ! You find here at once two of your adorers, 
Schlegel and my brother.' 

" ' It is the Unzelmann ! ' had Brinckmann f already 
whispered to me. She had not been long returned 
from Weimar, where she had had great success, and 
had often talked with Goethe, by whom she was so 
fascinated that she now wanted to force his IpJiigenia 
on to the stage, for her benefit-night, in spite of 
Iffland's secret dislike to it. Brinckmann was too im- 
patient to give me further explanations, and sprang 
eagerly forward to present himself as the true adorer 
of the lady, when Schlegel unexpectedly stepped 
before him, and excused himself to her somewhat 
solemnly and with embarrassment, but yet with 



* Varnhagen von Ense, Vermischte Schriften, vol. viii. 
\ A Swedish diplomat and poet. 



u Rahel Levin and her Society'.' 201 

boldness : ' it was more properly his brother Wilhelm 
who could be called her adorer, and who had sung 
of her as the fairy-child.' I grew very warm ; such 
German, blundering awkwardness had never before 
come under my notice. But the sprightly lady re- 
plied laughingly, ' I know all this very well, and dis- 
tinguish very clearly between the dissimilar brothers. 
Yet if I demand of you, dear Schlegel, no more than 
of your brother, you can, in God's name, undertake 
his part, for a short evening, without danger ! But, 
dear little one,'* she continued, 'where have you 
your wits to-day, that you consign me to such peo- 
ple ? For, just see, your brother, too, wishes already 
to excuse himself. No need, no need, dear Robert ; I 
know that you are in love with a certain Louise ; you 
will no doubt get there what you deserve ; only take 
care that when the fire suddenly goes out for want of 
fuel, you are not left standing helpless in the dark.' 

" Brinckmann thought now to have gained an 
opportunity for himself, and endeavored most eagerly 
to improve it. He addressed his conversation now to 
Mile. Levin, now to Mme. Unzelmann, now to both 
at once. He spoke with remarkable readiness, wove 
together seriousness and sport, and jested good- 
humoredly ; only, in everything he said he appeared 
to me a little too loquacious. This he seemed him- 
self to feel, and yet became ever the more talk- 
ative. Mile. Levin appeared resigned to listen to 
him. I listened at the same time, while Mme. 
Unzelmann carried on a conversation half aloud with 
Schlegel. 

* Liebe Kleine, i.e., Rahel. 



202 Goethe s Mother. 

" Here Schlegel interrupted us, complaining that 
Madame Unzelmann had no conception whatever of 
art. ' I have utterly failed with her/ he said, ' in 
my remarks upon her most important characters : 
she did not understand me in the least, and gave me 
the most stupid replies. She is not capable of giving 
the slightest account of a single one of her charac- 
ters/ Schack, happening to draw near, had caught 
this last remark, and replied to it at once. ' You 
gentlemen critics demand too much ! Madame 
Unzelmann knows it all in her way ; she acts it and 
brings it bodily before your eyes, and you yourselves 
wonder at her in it ; why must she now give the 
same thing in your way also ? To demand of the fas- 
cinating woman that she should — pshaw ! reason as 
you do, is precisely the same as to ask of you that 
you should act as she does — ah, but that would be 
beautiful, and we should not cry pshaw ! ' 

' Good, good, dear Schack,' cried a voice behind 
him : it was Mile. Levin, who had risen up and 
been attracted by our animated private discussion. 
Schack, like one caught, was for a moment confused, 
but only for a moment, and then briskly asked, 
' Have I reported it well, kluge Kleine (wise little 
one)? Well, I had not far to carry it ; for, gentle- 
men, what I have just said I had heard an instant 
before from our wise little friend, and I wanted to 
see at once how serviceable it might be, and whether 
you could say anything in reply to it.' ' 

101. August, Prince of Saxe-Gotha, to Frau Rath. 

Madam : Your kind and very flattering lines I re- 
ceived a few hours since with the most grateful feel- 



Frau Rath to Louisa Scklosser. 203 

ings ; and I esteem myself fortunate, through the 
taking of Mainz, * to be brought into communication 
with the mother of such a friend. No news in the 
world could have so heartily rejoiced me as the man- 
ner itself in which I learned the present. May, also, 
the purport of these news bring us nearer a more 
peaceful goal ! This is, at present, the warmest wish 
I can allow myself, since the war-troubles detain me 
so far from Frankfort, and, in the mean time, de- 
prive me of all hope of having the honor to present 
in person my thanks, Madam, to you, whose merits are 
long since known to me. For this pleasure I shall 
very soon give, by letter, a double and triple em- 
brace to your son, to whom for many years my whole 
heart has so tenderly and truly clung. I have the 
honor to be, with the most distinguished regard and 
respect, Madam, your most devoted 

August, P. z. Sachsen-Gotha. 
GOTHA, the 25th July, 1793. 

102. Fraa Rath to Louisa Scklosser. 

The 24th March, 1794. 
Dear LOUISA : Thou seest now how God, even 
here, rewards good children. Is not thy marriage f 
almost a wonder-work ? And that everything should 
so dispose itself that now thy dear parents and 
brother and sisters go with thee,;): that would not 

* Retaken by the Prussians from the French. 

f Louisa Schlosser was betrothed in the spring of 1794 to G. H. 
L. Nicolovius, who resided in Holstein. 

% In consequence of the war Schlosser moved with his family 
to Holstein. 



204 Goethe s Mother. 

have so easily happened had not war come into the 
country. Mark this for thy whole life : the God who 
can of stones raise up children unto Abraham can 
turn everything, which we with our dim eyes regard 
as misfortune, to our good. Now, dear Louisa, thou, 
the only one * remaining to me from a precious and 
ever-loved daughter, God bless thee ! Be the faith- 
ful companion of thy future excellent husband ; 
make his life to him as joyous and happy as is in thy 
power. Be a good wife and a German housewife ; 
thus will nothing be able to disturb thy inward peace, 
the quiet of thy soul. Hold, also, thy grandmother 
dear in the greater distance. My blessing accompany 
thee whereever thou art, and I am always 
Thy faithful grandmother, 

Goethe. 



103. Fran Rath to Louisa ScJilosser. 

The 20th September, 1794. 
DEAR LOUISA : This time a few lines to thee, dear 
little maiden. I cannot sufficiently tell thee how 
much thy industry, thy mindfulness of me has re- 
joiced me. My hearty thanks for the beautiful warm 
stockings ; they will certainly be of advantage to me ; 
such things help me more than the whole apothe- 
cary's shop, with all its jars and boxes ; they have 
also turned out so well, for I tried them on at once. 

1 send thee, herewith, a little present in return. Be 
content with grandmother's good-will. I send also 

2 lb. chocolate ; the other 20 lb. shall soon follow by 

* Julia had died in the preceding year. 



Frau Rath to Goethe. 205 

the carrier. Greet thy dear father, and thank him 
for the receipts sent. Now all is as I wished it, in 
the finest order, only my house is untidy and in dis- 
order,* which is very disagreeable to one accustomed 
to the contrary. God grant peace soon, that one may 
enjoy again tranquillity in one's possessions. Amen. 
To-day I have many and various things to do ; 
therefore only so much for this time. Greet thy 
dear mother, Henrietta, Edward, and Aunt Bogner, 
from 

Thy faithful grandmother, 

Goethe. 



104. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 24th Sept., 1795. 
Dear Son : Herewith come the Jews' wares. I 
wish thee much pleasure in them. My congratula- 
tions, also, on account of the future citizen of the 
world ; only it vexes me that I cannot announce my 
grandchild in the newspaper, and hold open festival. 
But as there is nothing perfect to be found under 
the moon, I console myself with this, that my 
Haschelhans \ is contented and happier than in an 
unlucky marriage. Kiss for me the little Augustus, 
and tell him that the Christ-child shall bring him 
pretty things from grandmother. . . . 

* All the movables had been packed up and sent off, in conse- 
quence of the general alarm about the war. The allied forces 
were constantly being driven back by the French, who, in fact, a 
month later occupied the whole left bank of the Rhine, with the 
exception of Luxembourg and Mainz. 

f See Letter No. 20, note 2. 



206 Goethe s Mother. 

Here all is, anew, in great commotion. The Im- 
perialists are retiring, the French will soon be with 
us again. True, those Prussians who are still here 
comfort us, and say the French will only pass 
through, and under their protection we have noth- 
ing to fear. But we must await results. I am cheer- 
ful and of good courage, and have not allowed a 
single gray hair to grow about the whole war. I see 
from my window the Austrians carrying away their 
sick in wagons, look on at the bustle, dine by the 
open window, look after my small housekeeping ; * 
evenings at the play, let the tragedy pass before me, 
and sing, " Life let us cherish while yet the taper 
glows." 

For the moment I do not do much work, and who- 
ever now gets a letter from me may boast of it ; the 
weather is too fine, my outlook too excellent. Wert 
thou not Wolfgang, thou wouldest have had to wait. 
I wish thou wert here for an instant. I could hardly 
continue to write for the noise. The whole Ross- 
markt is full of peasants' wagons, which have 
brought hay and straw to market ; the guard- 
parade of the Prussians is to march out, and on the 
great square there is no room ; the peasants get a 
cudgelling, and so on ; from the Bockenheimer gate 
wagons are coming in with beds ; the people of Mainz 
are in flight — enough : there is a hue and cry very 
strange to hear. An answer has just come from 
Herr Koppel that he is expecting Burgundy wine ; as 

* The Frau Rath, owing to her loneliness and the alarms of 
war, had sold, in May of this year, the large house in the Hirsch- 
graben, where the poet was born, and now occupied hired apart- 
ments on the Rossmarkt. Here she passed the rest of her life. 



Frau Rath to Louisa Nicolovius. 207 

soon as it comes he will send samples. Farewell ; 
greet all dear to thee. 

From thy faithful mother, Goethe. 

P.S. With longing and anticipations of great 
pleasure I am awaiting the continuation of Wilhelm. 



It will be seen that the Frau Rath called all her 
philosophy to her aid in regard to Goethe's relation 
to Christiane Yulpius, whom he afterward married. 
To her, who was so fond of her daughter's children, 
it must have indeed been a cross not to be able to 
hold open festival over those of her son. 

105. Frau Rath to Louisa Nicolovius. 

The 30th Jauuary, 1796. 

Dear, good Louisa, and Excellent House- 
wife : Here comes the great-grandmother's work. 
A thousand to one I am the first great-grandmother 
who has woven the lace for her great-grandchild's 
baby-clothes ; and in this case, as inspection shows, 
not mere lirum-larum, but a very handsome Brabant 
pattern. How beautiful the little creature will look 
in it ! Before thou gettest it I shall write again to 
thee and thy excellent husband, whom I am proud 
of as a grandson. For the present, farewell. For 
now the rarity must be packed and speedily sent off, 
that the great-grandchild may not arrive before the 
things. Greet thy dear husband. 

From thy faithful grandmother 

Goethe. 

To Frau Louise Nicolovius. 



2o8 Goethe s Mother. 



1 06. Frau Rath to Louisa Nicolovius and Husband. 

The 1st February, 1796. 
Dear Children : Your letters, which were so 
grateful to my motherly heart, and gave me so much 
pleasure, I should have answered at once by return 
post, if the little being who is still invisible had not 
prevented me. Yes, dear children, my great-grand- 
motherly work was the cause of the delay. I was 
anxious and uneasy whenever it occurred to me that 
the great-grandchild might arrive before my rarity ; 
everything had to stand still and wait, and so on. 
But now I draw breath ! The little package has been 
sent off — whither ? That you can read on the inclosed 
slip of paper. God grant our Louisa a happy and 
fortunate confinement ; that shall and will be for us 
all a day of joy and rejoicing. Amen. My sil- 
houette you shall have, but you must still have pa- 
tience, for the man who is a master in that art is 
away ; as soon as he returns it shall be made, and 
take among you the place you have so kindly and 
laudably designated for it. That my former friends 
and acquaintances still remember me with love is 
grateful to my heart, and takes me back again to the 
blissful days of former times, when I was so happy 
in the society of those noble and worthy men,* 
when I saw and heard so much that was good, en- 
joyed so much food for heart and soul. Never, no, 
never, shall I forget that glorious time ! Now that 

* These were the Stolbergs and Jacobis, near whom her grand- 
children were residing in Holstein. 



Frau Rath to Louisa and Husband. 209 

you, my dear children, have the good fortune to live 
among these excellent men, remember me some- 
times ; it will be a joy and great delight to me in my 
loneliness, and in the great distance from you all, 
not to be entirely effaced from the memory of these 
never-to-be-forgotten friends. My dear son Schlos- 
ser, with wife and children, is coming to me in the 
spring ; the coming will be to me joyful and pleas- 
ant ; but the parting ! When I think that in all prob- 
ability it will be the last time that Frau Aja will 
enjoy this pleasure, that the great distance makes 
correspondence and all else difficult, I have but one 
consolation, which I must, indeed, hold on to with 
both hands that it may not escape me — namely, that 
you all together * will then make one of the hap- 
piest families, and that I must, in the peculiar dispo- 
sition and guidance of all your fortunes, recognize, 
feel, and with heart-felt emotion acknowledge, and 
say, This is the finger of God. Now this same God, 
who thus far has shown us so much goodness, He 
will not let us lack for any good in this year ; also, 
may He bless you and keep you cheerful and joyous, 
grant our Louisa a happy sight of her first-born, 
and may she feel all a mother's joys. To the dear 
great-grandchild may He grant health, vigor, and 
strength for his entrance into life ; this will He do. 
Amen. Farewell, and hold dear 

Your heartily affectionate grandmother, 

Goethe. 



* Schlosser, with his family, was going to join his daughter in 
Holstein. 



210 Goethe s Mother. 

107. Fran Rath to Louisa Nicolovius and Husband. 

The 5th April, 1796. 
Now all thank God, with heart, mouth, and hands, 
who doeth great things. Yes, indeed, to you, to me, 
to us all has He, anew, manifested himself as He 
who is good, and whose goodness endureth forever. 
Blessed be His Holy name. Amen. Dear children, 
God bless you in your new relation! The name of 
father and mother is honorable. Oh, what joys 
await you ; and fortunate little boy, to enjoy being 
brought up by such excellent parents and grand- 
parents ! How carefully, my little darling, wilt thou 
be cherished in body and soul ; how early will good 
seed be sown in thy heart ; how soon everything be 
rooted out which might mar the beautiful image of 
God which thou bearest in thee ! Thou wilt in- 
crease in stature, wisdom, and favor with God and 
man. Thy great-grandmother can contribute nothing 
to all this good ; the distance is too great. Be glad, 
dear John George Edward, the great-grandmother 
cannot bring up children ; is not at all suited to it — 
does everything they wish when they laugh and are 
friendly, and whips them when they cry or make wry 
faces, without examining into the reason why they 
laugh, why they cry ; but I will love thee, heartily 
rejoice in thee, remember thee much and often be- 
fore God, give thee my great-grandmotherly bless- 
ing — yes, this I can and will do. Now I have 
plainly told the young citizen of the world what he 
has to expect from me : next, a few words with you, 
my dear grown children. My best thanks for your so 
dear and precious letters ; they are always grateful to 



Frau Rath to Louisa and Husband. 211 

my heart, and make me extremely happy, especially 
the news that the little package had come safely 
(for I had great anxiety about it) rejoiced me very 
much ; for only think ! if the great-grandmother's 
work, over which the good matron had so many a 
long day sat and woven, should have been lost or 
arrived too late, that would have been no joke to 
me ; but as it was just in good time, four days (for 
I looked at once in the almanac) before the little 
boy arrived, that was charming. The little fellow 
has so turned my head for clear joy that the proper 
congratulations, which, indeed, in the regular order 
ought to stand at the beginning, come now at the 
end ; but they mean just as much, and come just the 
same from the heart. God grant you to live to ex- 
perience in your child joy and delight in large 
measure : May he be also your support in your 
old age ; may he be to you what you are to your 
parents and grandmother : this is the best wish — I do 
not know a better. Dear Frau Gevatterin (the 
title makes me great sport), when this comes to your 
hands you will be again brisk and active ; but, hear 
me, do not be too much so ; do not go out too soon 
into the April air, for it has its caprices, like old 
Gertrude in the W ansbccker Bote* Stay quietly in 
your room until May comes, that no catarrh or cough 
may plague you. Now I hope you will accept good 
counsel. Well, dear Herr Gevatter, a thousand 

* The Wandsbecker Messenger, a half-humorous paper for the 
people, published by Mathias Claudius at Wandsbeck, near Ham- 
burg. Claudius was very successful in songs for the people 
( Volkslieder) ; the one most widely known is the Rheinweinlied, 
beginning, " Bekranzt mit Laub den lieben vollen Becher." 



212 Goethe s Mother. 

thanks once more for all your love, for your nice 
letters (with Louisa's inclosed), for the good, heart- 
rejoicing news, for the relation of godmother, for all 
that is dear and good, with w T hich you have so many 
times delighted my heart. God reward you for it. 
Hold me dear ; you live and flourish in the heart of 
her who is, and remains, 

Your faithful grandmother and great-grandmother 

Goethe. 

P.S. My best thanks to the excellent Countess 
Stolberg, and no less to dear Aunt Jacobi, for their 
love and friendship toward my Louisa. God bless 
them for it. I sent the letter to Charlotte at once. 
Heavens ! how she will cry for joy ! She is a kind- 
hearted but singular creature ; she cries for joy, she 
cries for grief ; when it rains and when the sun 
shines ; ruins her eyes quite unnecessarily, and makes 
no lace for the great-grandchild. 



The above is the last letter in the collection of the 
Frau Rath's letters to her grandchildren. 

In 1797 her son-in-law Schlosser was offered by 
the magistracy of Frankfort the position of syndic. 
There was a provision in the Frankfort constitution 
which forbade that more than one member of a fam- 
ily should occupy a place in its councils. Schlosser 
had been, heretofore, ineligible in consequence of the 
presence of his elder brother in the magistracy ; but 
on the death of his brother he was invited to 
Frankfort in the most honorable manner, the usual 
balloting being omitted by an imperial dispensation, 



Schlossers Death. 213 

granted at the unanimous request of the Frankfort 
Council. This honor he did not long live to enjoy. 

On the 23d of 'October, 1799, Goethe writes to 
Schiller : " From Frankfort I receive the intelligence 
that Schlosser is dead. The French and his garden * 
are the immediate causes of his death. He was in his 
garden as the former approached Frankfort ; he got 
belated, and found the nearest gate already closed ; 
was obliged to hasten on to the next one, which was 
far distant, came home to a very warm room, was 
from there sent for to the Council-house, and, in the 
sequel, fell into a fever, which proved fatal, and 
carried him off in a short time." 

In consequence of Schlosser's death, his son-in- 
law, Nicolovius, found it necessary to visit Frankfort 
on family affairs. He came accordingly with his 
family, in the spring of 1800, at which time the Frau 
Rath had the pleasure of welcoming the great-grand- 
son whose birth she had so warmly greeted. Nico- 
lovius writes, on the 24th of May, 1800, " The grand- 
mother, whose overflowing well of life is a true com- 
fort to me, has given us a little family feast, and 
yesterday, what is unheard of with her, a more for- 
mal dinner, to which excellent Niersteiner f lent its 
fragrance. Her manner, her very decided character 
in society, her singularity, her effervescent flow of 
spirits, all carry one away, and allow neither leisure 
nor coolness for judging. . . . We cannot suffi- 
ciently praise her friendliness. Her age :£ is percep- 
tible neither in her mind nor body. May her favorite 

* A garden outside of the town, such as it was customary for 
well-to-do Frankforters to have. The Goethes had also one. 
f A Rhine wine. \ In her seventieth year. 



214 Goethe s Mother. 

saying, ' Erfahrung macht Hoffnung, ' * be ours also. 
Where she appears, spring forth life and joy. She 
receives us indeed brilliantly, to the astonishment of 
all ; f and yesterday, as our little Edward % was with 
her in her box, and was swallowing the play with 
insatiable interest, she grew so great-grandmotherly 
proud that she trumpeted forth the great-grandson 
right and left, and I wager that there are now few 
persons of name in the city who have not heard 
Edward's praise from her lips, and know that the lit- 
tle fellow has from her a passion for the play in his 
blood." § 

1 08. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 1st August, 1796. 
Our present situation is in every respect very un- 
pleasant and critical. Yet, to worry myself before 
the time, or perhaps lose heart, was never my way. 
To trust in God, to use the present moment, not to 
lose one's head, to guard one's worthy self from ill- 
ness (for anything like that would now come at a 
very inopportune moment) — as this course has always 
heretofore turned out well for me, I intend to per- 
sist in it. 



On the 1 2th and 13th July, 1796, the French bom- 
barded Frankfort, which the Austrians were endeav- 
oring to hold. " My good mother," Goethe writes 

* Experience worketh hope. Romans, 5 : 4. 
f The Frau Rath, since the sale of her house, had lived very 
quietly. 

X Then about four years old. 

§ A. Nicolovius, Denkschrift auf G. H. L. Nicolovius. 



Fran Rath to Goethe. 215 

in his diary, ■" in her handsome new apartments near 
the guard-house, has directly before her eyes, look- 
ing up the Zeil,* the threatened and damaged por- 
tion of the city. She places her effects for safe-keep- 
ing in the fire-proof cellar, and flies over the bridge, 
which had been left open, to Offenbach. Her letter 
about it would be well worth adding here." 

This letter has never been given to the public. 
Schiller saw it, and wrote : " Our best thanks for 
your mother's letter. Besides the historical value of 
its contents, we were interested in the naivete of her 
own peculiar style." 

109. Fran Rath to Goethe. 

The 4th Dec, 1797. 
The first thing is to thank thee that thou hast 
given me a few weeks of this summer, during which 
I have so greatly rejoiced in thy society, and taken 
delight in thy remarkably good air and appearance. 
Further, that thou hast made me acquainted with 
thy loved ones, which also gave me great pleasure. 
God keep you all, as heretofore, and to Him shall be 
offered praise and thanks therefor. Amen. In one 
respect I am sorry that thou didst not visit me again 
on the return journey. 

no. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 1 2th March, 1798. 
A word only in regard to our conversation during 
thy stay here about the Latin letters.*)- The injury 

* The chief street of Frankfort. 

f i.e., about a proposition to substitute in printing the Latin 
characters for the German ones. 



216 Goethe s Mother. 

they will do mankind I will make palpably plain to 
thee. They are like a pleasure-garden belonging to 
the aristocracy, which no one may enter but the no- 
bility and people with stars and orders ; our German 
letters are like the Prater at Vienna, over which the 
Emperor Joseph had written, For AIL Had thy 
writings been printed with these odious aristocrats, 
they would not, with all their excellence, have be- 
come so universal. Tailors, seamstresses, maid-ser- 
vants, all read them ; each finds something adapted 
to his feelings, and thus they walk in the Prater pell- 
mell with the Literary Gazette. Doctor Hufnagel 
and others enjoy themselves, bless the author, and 
hurrah for him ! How wrong Hufeland has done to 
have his excellent book printed in letters of no ser- 
vice to the greater portion of mankind. Are only peo- 
ple of position to be enlightened ? Shall the lowly be 
shut out from everything good ? And this they will be, 
if a check be not put to these new-fashioned grim- 
aces. From thee, my dear son, I hope I may never 
come to see any production so adverse to the inter- 
ests of mankind. 



At the present day the Germans are taught to 
read with facility either form of printing. 

in. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 20th July, 1799. 
The news that you all are well rejoiced me hearti- 
ly. According to what my daughter writes me, there 
was rather a strong excitement in your household on 



Frau Rath to Goethe. 2 1 7 

account of the presence of his Royal Majesty.* 
The Frankforters have also done everything possible 
to entertain their old acquaintance. He received and 
accepted it in a very friendly manner. An honor has 
befallen me which I did not expect — the Queen in- 
vited me, through her brother, to come to her. The 
Prince came to dine with me, and ate at my little 
table. At 6 o'clock he came to take me to the Taxis 
Palace in a carriage with 2 footmen behind. The 
Queen conversed with me of old times — still remem- 
bered her great enjoyment in my former house, the 
good pancakes, and so on. 

112. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 1st Dec, 1799. 
DEAR Son : Since the return of Mamma La Roche 
I really feel for the first time how thou, out of love 
to me, hast made shift with my little dwelling. Ah, 
what a splendid description she has given me and all 
thy friends of thy house and thy whole establish- 
ment ! — the delicious dinner thou gavest her, the 
superb green satin room, the magnificent curtain, the 
picture that was behind it — summa summarum, she 
entertained me an entire day with it. What a day 
that was to me thou canst imagine ! God keep and 
bless thee, and let it be well with thee, and long 
mayest thou live on earth ; and thus it will be, for 
mothers' blessings build houses for the children. f 
Amen. 

* The King of Prussia. 

f " Der Mutter Sege bauet den Kindern Hauser." " The 
mother's blessing establisheth the houses of the children." Eccle- 
siasticus 3 : n. 



218 Goethe s Mother. 

113. Fran Rath to Goethe. 

The 31st January, 1801. 
Dear Son : Thank my dear daughter many times 
for her dear letter of the 22d January. Praise and 
thanks to God that He has so graciously and speedily 
turned aside from thee the great and threatening 
danger.* Ah, what an admirable thing is ignorance ! 
Had I known of the ill which had overtaken thee 
before amendment had set in, I believe I should have 
died of distress. 



114. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 1st October, 1802. 
DEAR SON : My best thanks for the readiness to 
lend a helping hand to Herr Schoff (Alderman) Mel- 
lecher's hobby. I am always pleased when thou 
canst do a favor to a Frankforter, for thou art and 
livest still among us ; art burgher, sharest all with 
us, standest in Varrentrap's Calendar among the ad- 
vocates — siunma summarum, belongest still to us, 
and thy compatriots reckon it an honor to be able to 
count so great and distinguished a man among their 
fellow-citizens. Edward Schlosser has brought me 
thy kind greeting. I hope he will turn out well. 
Fritz Schlosser also ; only about Christian I am often 
anxious. This young man is so overstrained f — 
thinks he knows more than nearly all his contempo- 
raries, has wonderful ideas, etc. Thou hast much 

* Goethe's severe illness at the end of the year 1800. 
f " Ueberspannt," as a bow overbent. 



Frau Rath to Goethe. 219 

influence with him ; if thou canst unbend him, do so.* 
That you intend again to send me mental produc- 
tions will be doing a good work ; there is great un- 
productiveness here, and your spring, which has 
abundance of water, will be grateful to my thirst. 
For thy coming, next year, I have plans in my 
head, each one more delightful than the other ; it 
will no doubt turn out well. God keep us all in good 
health, and the rest will follow. Farewell ! Greet 
my dear daughter and dear Augustus, from 

Your old faithful mother and grandmother 

Goethe. 



Many years after the death of Goethe's mother, 
Zelter having asked to see one of her letters, Goethe 
sent him the preceding letter (No. 114), and with it 
wrote, " Herewith I inclose one of my mother's 
letters, as thou desirest ; in it, as in every line she 
wrote, speaks out the character of a woman who led 

* " The three Schlossers and two Vosses," Goethe writes, "make 
one of the strangest groups of young people that has ever come to 
my knowledge. The youngest son of Alderman Schlosser (Chris- 
tian) is a little enrage for the newest philosophy (the teachings of 
Kant), and with so much soul, heart, and mind that Schelling and 
I are amazed at it. His elder brother (Fritz) is of a quiet, sensible 
nature, and I perceive that the little one has invited him to Jena 
to learn the saving doctrine. My brother-in-law's son seems not 
to belie his father ; he appears to me to have a good, straightfor- 
ward spirit, and pleasure in learning. He seems no little sur- 
prised that he must forswear all the philosophy that has been in- 
stilled into him, to which his little cousin will probably force him 
at last." (Goethe to Jacobi, 23d Nov., t8oi.) It may be of interest 
psychologically to add that the little enrage' later on went over to 
the Romish Church. 



220 Goethe s Mother. 

a strong, hearty life in the Old Testament fear of 
God, and full of trust in the unchangeable God of 
the people and the family ; and when she herself an- 
nounced her own death, gave orders for her funeral 
with such accuracy that the kind of wine and the size 
of the cracknels for the refreshment of the attend- 
ants were precisely determined." (Goethe to Zelter, 
9th Jan., 1824.) 

115. FraiL Rath to Goethe. 

The 13th January, 1804. 

Frau von Stael is now, as I hear, in Weimar. She 
weighed upon me as if I had had a millstone hang- 
ing about my neck. I went out of her way every- 
where, refused all companies where she was, and 
breathed more freely when she had gone. What 
does the woman want with me ? I have never in my 
life written even an A B C book, and my good genius 
will in the future also guard me from it. 

Greet thy dear ones. 

116. Frau Rath to Christiane Vulpius. 

FRANKF. A. M., the 24th January, 1804. 
Dear Daughter : A thousand thanks for your 
dear letter. You have done wisely and well to in- 
form me of my son's (praise and thanks to God) re- 
turning health, for there are all sorts of people who 
delight to spread ill news and to frighten one by exag- 
gerating it ; therefore, once more, my best thanks. I 
am also made entirely easy by your kind assurance, 
yet beg you soon to inform me of the continuance 
of that health so precious to me ; for the heart of 



Frau Rath to Goethe. 221 

man is, as was known of old, defiant and despond- 
ing. It has been reported here that Frau von Stael 
is very happy in Weimar, and that that princely resi- 
dence will carry off the prize for renown over all 
other places where she has yet been, and will be by 
her immortalized. There will be soon fine proceed- 
ings in Weimar, when the hereditary prince makes 
his entry with his wife, etc. 

117. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

Frckf., the 9th March, 1804. 
. . . But what in all the world are you doing with 
Frau von Stael ! To her, Weimar is truly a paradise. 
She will some day praise and glorify you all. What- 
ever ladies here have the least of the learned tone — ■ 
for example, Fraulein Louise von Barkhauss, Frau 
Geheimde Rathin von Wiesenhutten, Frau von 
Schwarzkopf, and so on — relate wonderful things of 
how delighted the lady is there. Any such thing 
rejoices me heartily if I can keep out of it. Fare- 
well. Greet my dear daughter and dear Augustus, 
from 

Your loving grandmother 

Goethe. 

Last Wednesday I had a very delightful evening 
at Schwarzkopf's. ' Torquato Tasso" was read. 
Antonio, Frau Rathin Goethe. 

118. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 9th April, 1804. 
Greet Schiller, and tell him that I from my heart 
esteem and love him ; also, that his writings are and 



222 Goethe s Mother. 

will continue to be to me a true refreshment. Schil- 
ler and thou give me, also, unspeakable joy that you 
reply not one word to all the schnick-schnack of re- 
viewers' twaddle and old women's gossip ; so these 
gentlemen may go to the devil ! * That is splendid 
on your part. Had Herr von Mayer understood this, 
he would not have brought on himself so much vexa- 
tion. Continue ever in this good course. Your 
works remain for eternity, and these pitiable scrawls 
go to pieces in one's hand, and are not worth pasting 
together. Enough said. 



A few months before, Christiane Vulpius had 
written to Nicolaus Meyer : "You judge our dear 
Geheimrath f correctly when you are sure he will 
remain silent about Kotzebue's attacks. What time 
and strength he would have lost in the past thirty 
years had he noticed all the stupid things which have 
been printed about him. On the contrary, he is at 
work this winter on much that will certainly give 
pleasure to you and all his friends ; he goes ever 
straight on his way, as you know, without looking 
much about him." (7th Feb., 1803.) 

119. Friedrich Maximilian K linger to Frau Rath. 

S. Petersburg, 18 Sept., 1804. 
Your remembrance, excellent lady, has caused me 
so much joy that I would gladly give myself up to the 

* " Darum mogten die Herren sich dem sei bei ergeben" (dem 
sei bei = dem Gott-sei-bei-uns — the God-be-with-us = the devil). 
See note to Letter 3. 

f Goethe. 



Goethe to his Mother. 223 

most youthful enthusiasm to describe it. But when 
I say to you that I think and feel just as at the time 
when I was so fortunate as to see, honor, and love 
you, that I am only outwardly changed, you will 
easily perceive what a happy day your letter must 
have given me. I thank you heartily for it, and ven- 
ture to say that, to-day, after all the wordly expe- 
rience and trial, I am as worthy of your friendship 
as when I first began life. I hope yet personally to 
convince you of it, and to find you as well and in 
happy mood as when I saw you in those charming 
times. I could not be of service to the Lieut. -Colo- 
nel, because he went to Moscow as a speculator, and 
entered upon affairs which lie outside of my sphere. 
Should I be able to serve him, do not doubt my good 
will. I thank you for sending the silhouette of my 
old crony. I hope he has ever remained my friend, 
as I have remained so to him. Should you see my 
old friend Riese, and Willemer, I beg you to greet 
them in the old spirit. From Riese I have never 
heard again, and I would have been so glad to hear 
from him. May you live as well, happily, and con- 
tentedly as you by your mind and heart deserve. I 
am, with the most cordial friendship and reverence, 
Your Klinger. 

120. Goethe to his Mother. 

Receive, dear mother, a thousand thanks for all 
the kindness you have shown to our Augustus. I 
wish that the recollection of his presence may give 
you but a part even of the pleasure which his narra- 
tion now procures us. We are, thereby, vividly 



224 Goethe s Mother. 

brought back to you and my old friends. Heartily 
thank all who so kindly received him. This first es- 
say to look out into the world has succeeded so well 
with him that I have good hopes of his future. His 
youth has been a fortunate one, and I wish that he 
may gayly and joyously pass over into a more serious 
period of life. His description of your continuous 
good health gives us the greatest pleasure : he has 
often to repeat it. I myself, with more exercise in 
this better weather, am very well. 

We all send our fairest, best, and most grateful 
greetings. G. 

W., the 6th May, 1805. 

121. Duke George of Mecklenburg-Strelitz to 
Frau Rath. 

CHARLOTTENBURG, the 20th August, 1805. 
As I know that you do your old friend justice, it 
would be impossible for me to depict to you in the 
usual flourishes my joy over your dear letter. I say 
to you, rather, that I have fully recognized in it my 
old dear R'athin, the woman in regard to whom I have 
never wondered that she gave Goethe to us. This 
I have felt not merely in its general sense, but well- 
nigh, as I have expressed it, in these very words ; and 
as in this way " only can words find their way to 
your heart, as I know, therefore I write to you. For 
to people who hereafter shall wander in mass in Ely- 
sium without form or name, as your son says in his 
Euphrosine,\ to such I certainly do not write, how- 

* *".*?., by writing. 

f Allusion to Goethe's exquisite elegy, " Euphrosyne," written 
on hearing of the death of Christiane Neumann, an actress whom he 



Duke Gsoi'ge to Frau Rath. 225 

ever brilliant may be the positions they occupy here. 
Do you remain ever kindly disposed toward me, and 
a long time still here on the earth, that we may be 
able often again to clink glasses when I come through 
Frankfort, in remembrance of the good old times ; 
for I think I can state with tolerable certainty that I 
shall ever remain the same old fellow. The Queen,* 
who assures me that she saw you again in Frankfort 
with heartfelt pleasure, sends her best greeting ; and 
I, if you permit me, embrace you, according to the 
old agreement, in the old German way. GEORG. 

had himself instructed. She made her first appearance as Arthur 
in " King John." 

" Denkst du der Stunde noch wohl, wie, auf dem Brettergeriiste, 
Du mich der hoheren Kunst ernstere Stufen gefuhrt ? 
Knabe schien ich, ein riihrendes Kind, du nanntest mich Arthur, 
Und belebtest in mir britisches Dichter-Gebild." 

The intelligence of her death reached Goethe in Switzerland, 
and he represents her in the elegy as appearing to him while toil- 
ing up a mountain pass, and begging him to give her name and 
form through the poetic art ; otherwise she must wander a name- 
less shade. This is the passage alluded to in the letter : 

" Lass nicht ungeriihmt mich zu den Schatten hinabgehn ! 
Nurdie Muse gewalirt einiges Leben dem Tod. 
Denn gestaltlos schwehen umher in Persephoneia's 
Reiche, massenweis', Schatten von Namen getrennt ; 
Wen der Dichter aber gerlihmt, der w;tndelt gestaltet, 
Einzeln, gesellet dem Chor aller Heroen sich zu." 

We venture a prose translation : 

Dost thou remember the time when, on the stage, thou ledst me 
in the earnest paths of higher art ? A boy I seemed, a heart- 
moving child, thou calledst me Arthur, and through me thou, 
gavest life to the creation of the English poet. 

Let me not go down unsung to the shades ; the Muse alone gives 
life to the dead. For there float about in crowds, in Persephone's 
kingdom, formless shadows, bereft of all name ; but whom the 
poet has sung wanders not formless ; distinguished, he joins the 
choir of heroes of all times. 

* Queen Louisa, of Prussia, his sister. 



226 Goethe s Mother 



122. Frau Rath to Goethe's Wife. 

The 1 6th May, 1807. 
So the little Brentano * has at last had her wish, 
and seen Goethe. I believe, in the opposite case, she 
would have gone mad. For I never saw the like. 
She wanted to disguise herself as a boy, and run on 
foot to Weimar. Last winter I was often really anx- 
ious about the maiden. Thank Heaven, she has at 
last had her wish in a proper manner. She is not yet 
back here, is in Cassel, so far as I know. As soon as 
she comes you shall learn all she has to say. 



Goethe was married to Christiane Vulpius on the 
19th of October, 1806. Two days before, he had 
written the following to the Oberconsistorial Rath 
Giinther : f 

During these days and nights an old purpose of 
mine has come to maturity. I wish fully, and in the 
legal form, to acknowledge as mine my little friend 
who has done so much for me, and has also passed 
with me through these hours of trial. \ 

Tell me, worthy pastor and father, what is to be 
done that we may be married as soon as possible, 
Sunday or earlier. What are the necessary steps to 
be taken ? Could you not yourself perform the cer- 
emony ? I should wish that it might take place in 
the sacristy of the town-church. 

* Bettina, author of " Goethe's Correspondence with a Child." 

f Keil, " Frau Rath," p. 364. 

X The sacking of Weimar, which followed the battle of Jena. 



Frau Rath to GoetJic. 227 

If it is convenient, please give the bearer your 
reply. Goethe. 

Goethe was at one time during the sack, according 
to the account Riemer* gives of it, in personal 
danger, from which he was rescued by the coolness 
and presence of mind of Christiane. The thought of 
the position in which she and his son would have 
been left by his death may have assisted in bringing 
his old purpose to maturity. 



123. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 19th May, 1807. 
Herewith comes a note from the little Brentano. 
From it is to be seen that she is still roving about in 
strange lands. The terms of her letter show, too, 
more than could be done with a whole alphabet, 
how she was pleased with her visit to you. Her story 
by word of mouth I long for amazingly. If she was 
but the very shortest time with you, I know positively 
that there will be no other word to be heard from her 
but of Goethe. Everything that he has written, every 
line is to her a masterpiece, especially Egmont. In 
comparison, all tragedies that have ever been written 
are nothing, absolutely nothing. As she has, cer- 
tainly, many peculiarities, she is, naturally, judged 
wholly erroneously. She has here, in the proper 
sense, no one but me. Every day that dawns she 
is here. This is almost her only pleasure. Then I 
must talk of my son, then tell stories. Then she 
maintains that no soul tells them as I do, and so 

* " Mittheilungen iiber Goethe." 



228 Goethe s Mother. 

on. Also from time to time she makes me little 
presents, sends a gift at Christmas. For the first 
Whitsuntide holiday she sent me by post two boxes 
with two superb flowers, on caps such as I wear, and 
a splendid porcelain chocolate cup, white and gold. 
Now a great spring from Bettina to the glass fruit- 
bottles, etc. 

A few years before this (in 1804) Crabb Rob- 
inson saw Bettina in Frankfort, and made the fol- 
lowing entry in his diary : " When I first came to 
Frankfort* she was a short, stout, romping girl, the 
youngest and least agreeable of Madame de la Roche's 
grandchildren. She was always considered a way- 
ward, unmanageable creature. I recollect seeing her 
climb apple-trees, and she was a great rattling 
talker. I recollect also hearing her speak in terms of 
extravagant admiration of the Mignon of Goethe's 
' Wilhelm Meister. ' Clasping her hands over her 
bosom, she said, ' I always lie thus when in bed, 
in imitation of Mignon.' ' (Henry Crabb Robinson, 
"Diary Reminiscences," etc.) 

124. Fran Rath to Goethe. 

The 8th Septbr, 1807. 
Bettine Brentano is enchanted with the permission 
to send thee a little note now and then. Thou 
needst not answer it ; that she does not ask, for that 
she is too insignificant. She will also trouble thee 
but very seldom. A man like thee has greater things 
to do than to write to her. She does not wish to 

* In 1800. 



Frau Rath to Goethe. 229 

snatch for herself the moments which belong to pos- 
terity and to eternity. 



125. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 6th Oct., 1807. 
This fair was rich in professors ; and as a great 
portion of thy reputation is reflected back on me, and 
people fancy I have contributed something to thy 
great talents, they accordingly come to look at me. 
I do not, then, put my light under a bushel, but on 
a candlestick. True, I assure people that I have not 
in the least contributed to that which has made thee 
a great man and poet (for praise that does not belong 
to me I never accept) ; besides, I know very well to 
whom the praise and glory belong ; for toward thy 
organization within me, as all was placed in thee al- 
ready in the germ, I have truly done nothing. A 
grain of brain more or less, perhaps, and thou wouldst 
have been a very ordinary man, for where there is 
nothing within, nothing can come out. Judge thou, 
all the female philanthropists in all Europe could not 
give that. Good, useful men — yes, that I will allow ; 
but here the question is of the extraordinary. So, 
then, my dear Frau Aja, thou hast most properly 
and justly given the honor to God, as is fair and 
right. Now, in regard to my light which stands on 
the candlestick, and shines pleasantly in the profess- 
ors' eyes. The gift which God has given me is a 
lively descriptive power of all things that come 
within my knowledge, great and small, truth and 
romance, and so on. As soon as I enter a circle, all 
are bright and cheerful while I narrate. Thus I 



230 Goethe s Mother. 

talked to the professors, and they came and went 
away delighted. That is the whole trick. Yet one 
more thing belongs to it : I always make a friendly 
face, which pleases people and costs nothing, as our 
blessed Merck used to say. 

I long very much for the Blocksberg — that was a 
silly expression — one might think that I was awaiting 
with anxiety the 1st of May * So, then, for the de- 
scription of thy Blocksberg f I am waiting ; thus 
it is better expressed. Greet old friends. 

126. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 27th Octbr, 1807. 
Since the 24th of this month we are having here a 
splendid show. The Imperial Guards are passing 
through to Mainz, to their own country. The 24th 
came 1821 jaegers on foot, day before yesterday 
1767 grenadiers on foot ; yesterday they held a re- 
view on the Rossmarkt. To-day are coming 2372 
fusileers ; Wednesday, 1091 mounted jaegers ; Thurs- 
day, 657 dragoons, and the 31st, 105 1 mounted gren- 
adiers. Nay, anything like this the world has not 
yet seen : all as if they came out of a cupboard — not 
a stain, not a spot — and then the splendid music. It 
is with me as with the dog in the fable : stave it 
off I cannot. I will not let myself be torn in pieces ; 
just like the dogs, I eat with the rest. Which is, 
being interpreted, I cherish life while yet the taper 
glows, seek for no thorns, snatch the little joys, 

* On the eve of May-day witches were said to dance on the 
Blocksberg, or Brocken, the highest peak of the Hans Mountains, 
f In " Faust." 



Frau Rath to Goethe. 231 

stoop if the doors are low ; if I can push the stone 
out of the way, do so ; if it is too heavy, go around 
it, and thus every day I find something that re- 
joices me, and the key-stone — belief in God. That 
makes my heart glad and my countenance joyous. I 
know that it is well with me and mine, and that the 
leaves not even wither, to say nothing of the stem. 
To-day we have been notified of a large quartering 
of soldiers, the above-named 2372 men. I must 
regale them with roast pork. 

127. Frau RatJi to Goethe s Wife. 

The 14th Novbr, 1807. 
The Brentano family are here again (except Bettina, 
who is still in Cassel). They cannot come to an end 
of praising and lauding and giving thanks : there is 
nothing like the way they have fared with you, the 
honor done them, the pleasure they have enjoyed. 
Summa summarum — such excellent people, such a 
handsome house, such a staircase, such a play — this 
is all to be found only at Goethe's. It has all been 
told only piecemeal, for they are not to anticipate 
Betine, who wants to tell me everything herself. 
You, my dear ones, can easily imagine what a day 
of rejoicing you have thereby made for me, and 
what joy awaits me in Betine's narration. For this 
joy also, I thank you all heartily. 

128. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

Friday, the 15th January, 1808. 
Bettine is beside herself with joy over thy letter. 
She brought it to me in triumph, as well as over 



232 Goethe s Mother. 

Herr Riemer's verses. Weimar is her heaven, and 
the angels (the whole country is included) are you 
all ! Betine told me Fraul. von Gochhausen was 
dead ; is it true ? * 

Meline is much rejoiced that the little cap was so 
kindly received. 



129. Frau Rath to Iter Grandson, Augustus Goethe. 

The 28th March, 1808. 
We have now a museum too. Thy father's bust 
stands there near our Prince Primate's. The place 
of honor on the left is not yet occupied ; it should in 
justice be a Frankforter. Yes, ye may wait a while ! 
On such an occasion or opportunity Kastner's cap- 
ital epigram always occurs to me : " Ihr Fiirsten, 
Grafen und Pralaten, auch Herrn und Stadte insge- 
mein, vor 20 Species Ducaten, denk doch ! soil 
einer Goethe sein.f 



The Prince Primate, Charles Theodore von Dal- 
berg, was an interesting figure of the times. The 
Dalbergs early took a prominent position in Ger- 
many. At the coronation ceremonies, as soon as the 
crown had been placed on the emperor's head it 
was the custom for the herald to cry out, " 1st kein 
Dalberg da?" (Is there no Dalberg here?) where- 

* Fraiilein von Gochhausen died on the 7th of September, 1807. 

f Ye Princes, Counts, and Prelates, also Lords and Towns, 
usually among twenty gold ducats, just think, there will be but 
one Goethe. These princes and towns are addressed because thej' 
had the right of coining money. 



Charles Theodore von Dalbcrg. 233 

upon the representative of this family advanced and 
was made by the emperor first knight of the empire. 
The subject of the present sketch was born in 
1744, He became early the recipient of ecclesiastical 
honors. At the age of nine years he was prebend 
of the Archbishopric of Mainz, in the next year 
prebend of Wurzburg and Worms,at fourteen Canon 
at Worms, at twenty-four Canon at Mainz, at twenty- 
six Vicar-General of Worms and Privy Councillor 
to the Elector of Mainz. In 1792 he was appointed 
Governor of Erfurt, which belonged to the Elector- 
ate of Mainz. This position he occupied more than 
fifteen years, and was in intimate relations with the 
neighboring court of Weimar and its literary circle. 
Frequent mention is made of the Statthalter (his 
official title) in the correspondence of the time. In 
a letter to Frau von Stein (5th May, 1780) Goethe 
writes of him : " By his narrations, drawn from his 
varied political activity, he lifts my mind out of the 
simple web I spin about me, which, although having 
many threads, yet gradually confines me too much 
to a central point. . . . He has remarkable 
adroitness in civil and political affairs, and an enviable 
readiness." In 1787 von Dalberg was made Coadju- 
tor to the Elector of Mainz, a position which im- 
plied the succession to that electorate. Duke Carl 
August of Saxe-Weimar interested himself actively in 
favor of this appointment. In 1802 he succeeded to 
the Electorate of Mainz and the Arch-Chancellor- 
ship of the Holy Roman Empire, to which, in the 
following year, were added the Archbishopric of 
Ratisbon, with the cities of Aschaffenburg and Wetz- 
lar. In 1805, by the treaty of Luneville the left bank 



234 Goethe s Mother. 

of the Rhine was ceded to the French, by which von 
Dalberg lost the greater portion of his electorate ; 
to compensate him he was made Prince Primate of 
the Confederation of the Rhine, and to provide a 
revenue consistent with his dignity as presiding 
officer of the Diet, a portion of the Rhine tolls was 
assigned to him by Napoleon. 

Von Dalberg was from the first a great admirer of 
the genius of Napoleon. He was present at Paris at 
the latter's coronation, and was made corresponding 
member of the Institute, succeeding to Klopstock. 
In spite of his admiration for Napoleon, he felt that 
the French ascendency in Germany should be resist- 
ed, and at the time of the formation of the third coali- 
tion against Napoleon he issued a proclamation in 
favor of it to all the states of the German Empire. 
The battle of Austerlitz gave the decisive blow to 
the coalition, and von Dalberg, believing further re- 
sistance useless, accepted without reserve the Napo- 
leonic rule. Alluding to his presidency of the Diet, 
and his revenue from the Rhine tolls, he said jestingly 
to Napoleon after the battle of Austerlitz, " Quant 
a moi, Sire, je nai ricn a perdre, vous 111 avez de'ja 
mis a la dicte et a V eau." Napoleon did not, 
however, withdraw his favor, and when, later on, to 
appease the demands of Bavaria it became neces- 
ary to take Ratisbon from him, the free town of 
Frankfort was deprived of its autonomy and handed 
over to von Dalberg, who took the title of Grand 
Duke of Frankfort. 

Under these circumstances it was not to be expected 
that the Frankforters should be very much pleased 
with their Grand Duke. They gave him, however, 



Fratt Rath to Goethe's Wife. 235 

the credit of his good intentions : he interested 
himself actively for the charitable institutions of the 
town, and promoted the creation of the beautiful 
boulevards which surround the town, and form one of 
the most charming features of modern Frankfort. 
But, with all his good intentions, he was, like many 
German princes of his day, but a puppet on a wire 
which was pulled in Paris, and in his grand duchy 
the birthday of the Emperor Napoleon was ex- 
pected to be celebrated as if on French territory. 

The war of 181 3 found von Dalberg on the unpop- 
ular side, and he was too old to change again. He 
abdicated hjs grand duchy and retired to Ratisbon, 
where he passed the remainder of his life in retire- 
ment and comparative poverty. He died in 1817. 

130. Frau Rath to Goethe's Wife. 

The 22d April, 1808. 
Augustus has dined at our Prince's (the Primate's) 
with me. The Prince drank my son's health, and 
was thoroughly charming. The play was a great 
pleasure to him ; he was there every evening. The 
Schlossers, Brentanos, Gernings,* Leonhardis showed 
him much friendship. 



In Eckermann's " Conversations with Goethe," 
there is the following passage about this dinner : 
" Dined with Frau von Goethe. Young Goethe relat- 
ed some pleasant anecdotes of his grandmother, Frau 
Rath Goethe, of Frankfort, whom he had visited twen- 
ty years before as a student, and with whom he was 
one day invited to dine at the Prince Primate's. The 



236 Goethe s Mother. 

Prince, as a mark of particular politeness, had come 
to meet the Frau Rath on the stairs ; but as he wore 
his usual clerical costume, she took him for an abbe 
and paid him no particular respect. Even when 
first seated by his side at table, she did not put on 
the most friendly face. In the course of the conver- 
sation, however, she gradually perceived, from the 
deportment of the rest of the guests, that he was 
the Primate. The Prince then drank her health and 
that of her son, wmereupon she rose and proposed 
the health of his Highness." 



131. Frau Rath to Goethe. 

The 3d June, 1808., 
Thy letter of the 9th May has refreshed and highly 
delighted me. Yes, yes, vineyards are still planted 
on the mountains of Samaria ; * there is planting 
and piping ! As often as I hear anything good 
from thee all the promises treasured in my heart 
spring to life again. He keepeth truth forever, hal- 
lelujah ! He will this time also bless Carlsbad, f 
and will let me always hear good news of you. 

Betine is in the Rheingau ; but all the good that 
thou hast written of her she shall faithfully be in- 
formed of. 

132. Frail Rath to Goethe. 

The 1st July, 1808. 
Thy little note of the 22d June was again an ex- 
cellent, precious, delightful apparition to me. God 

* See Letter 30, note. 

f Where Goethe was going for the benefit of the waters. 



Frau Rath to Goethe. 237 

bless the cure still farther, and cause the old trouble 
entirely to disappear. 

Thy dear friendly letter to Betine I have not yet 
been able to forward to her. She darts about like a v 
will-o-the-wisp, now in the Rheingau, now some- 
where else. As soon as she comes she shall have 
this happiness. 

Herr Werner is here. Frau von Stael, born 
Necker, has been here. 



The above is the last of the Frau Rath's published 
letters. She died on the 13th of September, 1808, in 
her seventy-eighth year, receiving with cheerful res- 
ignation from her nephew and physician, Dr. Mel- 
ber, whom she dearly loved, the intelligence that 
her last hours had come. 

Falk gives a characteristic anecdote of her old age, 
which sums up those traits of serene trust and light- 
headedness with which her letters abound : 

" In her old age, at a time when she had been 
many weeks molested by the troubles attendant 
upon age, she said to a friend who had come to 
inquire after her health, ' Thank God ! I am once 
more contented with myself, and can endure myself 
for a few weeks longer. Till now I have been quite 
intolerable, and have striven against God like a little 
child that never knows what it needs. But yesterday 
I could stand myself no longer, I gave myself a 
good scolding, and said, " Ay, art thou not ashamed 
of thyself, old Rathin ! Thou hast had good days 
enough, and Wolfgang besides, and now when the 
evil days come thou shouldst make the best of them, 



238 Goethe s Mother. 

and not pull such a wry face ! What does it mean 
that thou art so impatient and naughty when the 
blessed God lays a cross on thee ? Dost thou want, 
«then, to walk upon roses forever, and art past the 
goal, over seventy years old ! " Look you, this is 
what I said to myself, and directly there set in an im- 
provement, and I grew better because I was no longer 
so naughty.' 

In 1844, when the statue of Goethe was to be un- 
veiled in Frankfort, Bettina von Arnim was seized 
with a very happy inspiration. " I see from the 
programme," she wrote to the committee, " that 
the procession will pass the house where Goethe's 
mother spent her last years. You will doubtless halt 
there and give a solemn salute with the trumpets in 
memory of your amiable fellow-townswoman, who so 
clung with her whole heart to her native town. And 
it would be very appropriate if, among all the gar- 
lands which on that day shall be brought to the 
statue of Goethe, the best and holiest crown, after 
having adorned the son's head should be laid upon 
his mother's grave ; this would fully express the 
sympathy with that enthusiasm which through this 
woman's whole life was the reflection of the purest 
happiness." 

The cemetery where the Frau Rath was buried is 
now disused, and is a public walk. The Frau Rath's 
last resting-place has been marked by a stone with 
the inscription, " Der Grab der Frau Rath Goethe." 
The spot has many visitors, and none can fail to note 
the appropriateness of the place in the very heart of 
the city she loved. The coronation ceremonies, 
which were once counted among the glories of Frank- 



Death of Fran Rath. 239 

fort, have gone their way into the lumber-room of 
the past, but the Frau Rath gave to the world an 
emperor in the realm of thought, the splendor of 
whose genius has shed a lustre on his birthplace such 
as Holy Roman Emperor never gave. 




Goethe's Father, Johann Caspar Goethe. 
From Lavater's " Physiognomy" 



THE GOETHE HOUSE AT FRANKFORT. 

(see title-page.) 



The Goethe House in the Hirschgraben at Frankfort- 
on-the-Main came into the possession of the Goethe family, 
and first began to have a history, in the year 1733. In that 
year it was bought by Frederick George Goethe's widow, 
the poet's grandmother. The widow Goethe had inherited 
a handsome property from her first husband, the proprietor 
of the hotel " Zum Weidenhof." For her second hus- 
band she had married Frederick George Goethe, a tailor, 
who for her sake dropped the shears and carried on the 
business of the hotel until he died in 1730, leaving his 
widow with two sons. In 1733 the eldest son died, and in 
the same year the widow sold the hotel and bought this 
house in the Hirschgraben, to which she retired with her 
only remaining son, John Caspar, the poet's father. The 
house at that time consisted of two buildings, a large and 
a small one, the partition walls of which had been broken 
through, and the different levels of the floors overcome by 
steps. As long as the grandmother lived the house re- 
mained in this condition, but the poet's father was for 
many years busied with plans for its reconstruction. In 
1754 the grandmother died, and in the following year the ' 
rebuilding was begun, the future poet, at the age of six, 
dressed as a bricklayer, laying the corner-stone. In 1795 
John Caspar Goethe's widow, the poet's mother, sold the 
house to Herr Blum, a wine merchant. Herr Blum sold 
it the same year to the widow of the Procurator Roessing. 



242 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

In the possession of the Roessing family the house re- 
mained until 1863, when it was bought by public subscrip- 
tion and placed in the hands of an association called the 
Free German Foundation (Freies Ueutsches Hochstift), to 
be held by them in trust for the German people. 

Such is the simple chronology of a house whose associa- 
tions render it one of the most interesting in Germany. It 
has been restored as nearly as possible to its original con- 
dition, and its rooms are now used for society meetings 
and for the purposes of reading and study. Some few ar- 
ticles of the original furniture have with difficulty been 
secured, but the chief interest to the visitor is in recalling 
on the spot the story of Goethe's home life. Therefore, 
before describing these bare though speaking walls, we 
pause to consider the dramatis persona of the family circle 
in which grew up the wise poet, the reflection of whose 
genius has made them all illustrious. 

The widow of Frederick George Goethe had spared no 
pains upon the education of her only remaining son, John 
Caspar. He had been sent to the gymnasium at Coburg, 
reputed one of the first schools of that day ; went thence 
to the University at Leipsic, where he studied law, and, 
later, took the degree of Doctor-at-Law at the University 
of Giessen. A. few years after he came with his mother to 
live in the house in the Hirschgraben, Dr. Goethe, then in 
his thirtieth year, made a journey to Italy. In the year 
1740 a journey to Italy was an event, and it left upon the 
poet's father an ineffaceable impression. Twenty-six years 
after, when the poet in his turn was in Italy, he wrote from 
Naples : " I can forgive all those who go out of their 
wits in Naples, and remember with emotion my father, 
who received an indelible impression from these very ob- 
jects which to-day I have seen for the first time ; and as 
it is said that he to whom a ghost has appeared will never 
be joyous again, so in an opposite sense it might be said 



The GoetJie House at Frankfort. 243 

of him that he never could be unhappy, because he always 
in thought turned back to Naples." The father brought 
home engravings, curiosities, collections, and bric-a-brac 
of many kinds. Views of St. Peter's, the Castle of San 
Angelo, the Colosseum, etc., were hung about the house, 
and became associated with the poet's earliest recollec- 
tions. The father's time and thoughts were occupied for 
many years in arranging his collections, and in writing 
out his diary in the Italian language with the greatest care 
and minuteness. He read, wrote, spoke, and sang Italian 
— in short, Italy became a very hobby with him for the 
rest of his life. 

Dr. Goethe now anticipated taking a part in the world, 
but found his hopes quickly frustrated. 

" My father," writes the poet, " as soon as he had 
returned from his travels, had, in accordance with his own 
peculiar character, formed the project — in order to prepare 
himself for the service of the city — of undertaking one of 
the subordinate offices and filling it without emolument, 
provided it were given him without his being subjected to 
the ballot. According to his way of thinking, and the 
conception he had of himself, and in the consciousness of 
his good intentions, he believed himself worthy of such a 
distinction, although, in fact, it was in accordance with 
neither law nor precedent. Consequently, when his request 
was refused, he fell into ill-humor and vexation — swore 
that he would never take any position whatever ; and in 
order to render it impossible, procured for himself the 
title of Imperial Councillor (Kaiserlicher Rath), which the 
Chief Magistrate (Schultheiss) and the eldest judges bore 
as a special mark of distinction. In this way he made 
himself the equal of those in the highest positions, and 
could no longer begin at the bottom of the ladder." 

The Imperial Councillor next turned his attention to 
matrimony, and sued for and obtained the hand of Cath- 



244 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

arine Elizabeth Textor, the daughter of the Schultheiss. 
The bride was not yet eighteen years old, twenty years 
younger than her husband, nor was this difference ever 
compensated for by sympathy in thought or feeling. The 
wife felt herself to be, as was the fact, not so far separated 
by years from her children as from her husband. She had 
married because her parents thought the offer an eligible 
one, and she found herself in the hands of a grim, pedan- 
tic, solemn schoolmaster ; for Rath Goethe's marriage 
brought out in him a second hobby, namely, the most rigid 
pedagogy. He was a man with absolutely nothing to do, 
who had been carefully crammed with all the book-learn- 
ing of his day, and it became with him a sort of mono- 
mania to impart his knowledge to others. The young wife 
was, accordingly, at once set to work at writing from dic- 
tation, playing on the harpsichord, singing, studying Ital- 
ian, etc. The birth of the poet brought her her first 
vacation, but gradually, the children offering a fresh field 
for the pedagogue's labors, the wife's education came to 
be looked upon as completed. Goethe thus sketches the 
situation : 

" A father, certainly affectionate and well-meaning, but 
grave, who, because he cherished within a very tender 
heart, manifested outwardly, with incredible persistency, a 
brazen sternness, that he might attain the end of giving 
his children the best education, and of building up, regu- 
lating, and preserving his well-founded house. A mother, 
on the other hand, still almost a child, who first grew into 
consciousness with and in her two eldest children. These 
three, as they looked out on the world with healthy glances, 
felt a capacity for life and a longing for present enjoy- 
ment. This contradiction floating in the family increased 
with years. My father followed out his views unshaken 
and uninterrupted ; the mother and children could not 
give up their feelings, their claims, their desires." 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 245 

The poet, in recurring to his boyhood, naturally dwells 
upon his father's severity, which was the paramount im- 
pression of that period of his life. But we should not be 
unjust to Rath Goethe ; he was a man to be respected, 
though not beloved ; if formality and sternness be faults, 
at least they lean toward virtue's side, and as far as in- 
struction goes, he had not simply a passion for it, but great 
talent. The education he gave his son was, it is true, very 
different from that the son would have obtained in any 
school of that day or this, and seems very desultory and 
imperfect to those accustomed to the rigid uniformity of 
schools. 

Music, drawing, reading, writing, dancing, history, geog- 
raphy, fencing, languages, ancient, modern, and Oriental 
— everything seemed to be going on at once. Yet this want 
of method in so methodical a man suited the universality 
of the son's genius, which it might have been difficult to 
bind down to the routine of a school. Rath Goethe did 
not pay much attention to the order in which the studies 
were pursued, so that the children were always busied with 
something which he thought important. It was one of the 
characteristics of Goethe's activity of mind that he could 
all his life spring from one subject to another, even the 
most diverse ; but it was also a part of his nature to busy 
himself about half a dozen different things almost at the 
same time, and leave them all incomplete. This trait must 
have been a severe trial to the lather, for his rule was that 
everything begun should be completed, and if a book which 
he had chosen to be read aloud in the family circle proved 
never so tedious, it must be read through, even if he were 
himself the first to set the example of yawning. In spite 
of the many-sidedness of Goethe's mind, there was little 
place there for mathematics — a line of thought which was 
not very far pursued in his education, and which he never 
could appreciate. Later in life, when mathematicians of- 



246 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

fered to prove by geometric formulae that his theory of 
colors was false, he could not comprehend them, and 
believed that they were trifling with him. He approached 
the problems of nature, not as anunimpassioned investiga- 
tor, but as a poet, and the wonderful generalizations 
which he made in botany and anatomy — theories which are 
now accepted and acknowledged — sprang from his intense 
poetic conception of the necessary unity of nature. 

Not a ray of the poet's genius can be traced to his 
father ; in the son's youth and young manhood the joyous 
disposition and lively imagination which he received from 
his mother were his most conspicuous qualities ; but as 
he grew old he came more and more to resemble his 
father, and in the dignified formality of what was called 
Goethe's " official manner" the old Frankfort Councillor 
seems to appear again before us. 

The rebuilding of the house was one of the great events 
of Goethe's childhood. The family remained in it through 
nearly the whole period of the work. The upper stories 
were supported, and the house rebuilt from below upward. 
Goethe writes : 

" This new epoch was a very surprising and remarkable 
one for the children. To see falling before the mason's 
pick and the carpenter's axe the rooms in which they had 
been so often cooped up and pestered with wearisome les- 
sons and tasks, the passages in which they had played, the 
walls for whose cleanliness and preservation so much care 
had been taken, to see this work going on from below up- 
ward while they were suspended, as it were, in the air, 
propped up on beams, and yet all the time to be held to an 
appointed lesson, to a definite task— all this brought a con- 
fusion into our young heads which it was not so easy to 
clear away again. But the inconveniences were felt less 
by the young people, because they had more space for play 
than before, and had many opportunities of balancing on 
rafters and playing at see-saw with the boards." 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 247 

The rebuilding was begun in the spring of 1755, and was 
at least so far completed before the winter that the family 
could resume their usual course of life. Much remained 
to be done for the adornment and completion of the inte- 
rior. The father's books were rearranged, and the pictures, 
which had been scattered through the house, were col- 
lected together, set in black and gilt frames, and hung in 
one room in symmetrical order. With the Herr Rath's 
intense love of order and minute attention to details, all 
these arrangements, together with the decorating and fur- 
nishing of the rooms, were extended over a long period of 
time. In the course of this work so much that was super- 
fluous was found that the Herr Rath (who never allowed 
anything to be lost) determined to have a sale by auction, 
at which, among other things, he sold his mother's clothes 
and house-linen. The following advertisement appeared 
in the Frankfort Advertiser, April 25, 1758 : 

*' By superior authority, on the coming Monday, May 
1st, and the following days, at the house of Rath Goethe, 
in the Grosse Hirschgraben, will be sold, by the sworn 
auctioneer, to the highest bidder, various movables in the 
following order : First, several firearms, among them a 
new mousqueton j next, various articles of wood- work, to- 
gether with a still serviceable lattice* for a house-door, 
three large house-clocks ; then, tin and brass articles, etc. 
Further, several empty casks ; next, a violin and an ebony 
flute-traversiere j further, a number of law, practical, and 
historical books, and among these a set of the well-known 
' Elzevir Republics,' together with about one hundred and 
eighty-two unbound complete copies of D. Wahl's ' Dis- 
sert, de usufr. conjugum pacitio ; ' further, several silk 
and cotton dresses ; and lastly, a moderate assortment of 

* The Gerams through which the mischievous Wolfgang threw 
all the kitchen dishes for the amusement of his playmates, the 
Ochsensteins, across the way. See the Autobiography. 



248 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

good linen articles, mostly for women, as well as various 
articles not included under the above heads." 

Turning to the year 1794, in Goethe's diary we find a 
pleasant retrospect of the reconstructed, refurnished home. 
Nearly forty years have passed away since all were so busy 
with its refurnishing. The Herr Rath is long since dead ; 
the French Revolution has come, with the troublous times 
which followed it, and Goethe's mother begins to find the 
large house a source of anxiety and care. 

" The handsome citizen's house which my mother had 
enjoyed since my father's death had been a burden to her 
ever since the beginning of hostilities, although she had 
not ventured to acknowledge it ; yet during my last year's 
visit I had explained her situation to her, and urged her to 
free herself from such a burden. But just at that time it 
was unadvisable to do what one felt to be necessary. A 
house newly built within our lifetime, a convenient and 
becoming citizen's residence, a well-cared-for wine-cellar, 
household articles of all kinds and in good taste for their 
time ; collections of books, pictures, copper-plates, maps, 
antiquities, small objects of art and curiosities ; very many 
remarkable things which my father out of inclination and 
knowledge had collected about him as opportunity offered 
; — all was still there together ; it all, by place and position, 
was conveniently and usefully united, and only as a whole 
had it really its acquired worth. Thinking of it as divided 
and scattered, one must necessarily fear to see it wasted 
or lost." 

This dispersion, which Goethe looked foward to with 
pain, took place in the next year, 1795. 

One enters the Goethe mansion from the street by three 
steps, and comes into a large hall extending the whole 
depth of the house from front to rear. On the right are 
rooms which were used for storerooms and for the ser- 
vants ; on the left are the kitchen, in the rear, and the 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 249 

family dining-room, toward the street. In the latter oc- 
curred the well-known tragi-comic barber scene. It was 
at the time when Klopstock's " Messiah" was in the height 
of its popularity. Rath Goethe had been educated in the 
opinion, very prevalent in his day, that poetry and rhyme 
were inseparable ; and as the " Messiah" was not written 
in rhyme, it was very plain to him that it could not be 
poetry, and he would have none of it. A friend of the 
family, at the same time an enthusiast for Klopstock, 
smuggled the book into the house. The mother and 
children were delighted with it, and the latter learned large 
portions of it by heart. Goethe relates : 

" We divided between us the wild, despairing dialogue 
between Satan and Adramelech, who have been cast into 
the Red Sea. The first part, as the most violent, fell to 
my share ; the second, a little more pathetic, my sister 
undertook. The alternate curses, horrible indeed yet well- 
sounding, thus flowed from our lips, and we seized every 
opportunity to greet each other with these infernal phrases. 

" It was a Saturday evening in winter. My father al- 
ways had himself shaved by candle-light, in order to be 
able on Sunday morning to dress for church at his leisure. 
We sat on a footstool behind the stove, and while the 
barber put on the lather, murmured in moderately low tones 
our customary imprecations. But now Adramelech had to 
lay iron hands on Satan. My sister seized me violently, 
and recited softly enough, but with increasing passion : 

" ' Give me thine aid, I entreat thee ; will worship thee if thou 
requirest — 

Thee, thou monster abandoned ; yes, thee, of all criminals black- 
est. 

Aid me ; I suffer the tortures of death, which is vengeful, eternal. 

Once, in the time gone by, with a hot, fierce hate I could hate 
thee, 

Now I can hate thee no more. E'en this is the sharpest of tor- 
tures. ' 



250 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

" Thus far everything had gone tolerably well ; but 
loudly, with a terrible voice, she shouted out the following 

words : 

" ' O, wie bin ich zermalmt ! 
Oh, how am I crushed ! ' 

" The good barber was startled, and upset the lather 
basin over my father's breast. There was a great uproar, 
and a severe investigation was held, especially in view of 
the mischief that might have resulted had the shaving 
been actually going forward. In order to remove from 
ourselves all suspicion of wantonness, we confessed to our 
satanic characters, and the misfortune occasioned by the 
hexameters was too apparent for them not to be anew 
condemned and banished." 

The wide staircase begins in the large hall on the ground 
floor, and leads on each story to a spacious antechamber 
or hall, out of which all the rooms open. These ante- 
chambers on each floor, with large windows toward the gar- 
den or court, are frequently referred to by Goethe as 
having been the delight of his childhood. In them the 
family passed much of their time during the warm season 
of the year, and the children found there ample space for 
play. On the second floor were the " best rooms." We 
learn in an early chapter of " Wilhelm Meister's Appren- 
ticeship" that they had what was called English furniture, 
and wall-paper of a Chinese pattern. Hardly had the old 
Rath got them furnished to his mind when the Seven 
Years' War broke out ; Frankfort was occupied by the 
French, and the Count Thorane from Provence was bil- 
leted upon him. The Count, a well-bred and highly cul- 
tivated nobleman, did everything in his power to make 
his presence as little burdensome as possible, and even 
refrained from hanging up his maps on the Chinese wall- 
paper. The friends of the family were never wearied in 
dwelling on the Herr Rath's good fortune that so gentle- 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 251 

manly an occupant had fallen to his lot. But the Herr 
Rath would listen to no palliative suggestions ; he was 
almost beside himself with rage at seeing his best rooms, 
the apple of his eye, seized upon by strangers and ene- 
mies ; and, added to this, he was so fierce a partisan for 
" Old Fritz" that during the whole time of the Count's 
stay, which extended to about three years, Rath Goethe 
went about with a thorn in his flesh, and on one occasion 
gave vent to his long pent-up wrath in such terms that only 
the urgent intercessions of his wife and friends saved him 
from immediate arrest. The mother and children were at 
once on the best of terms with the Count, who often sent 
the children cake and ices from his table ; but the ices, to 
the children's great distress, the mother always threw out 
of the window, declaring, in her honest simplicity, that 
she did not believe the human stomach could digest ice, be 
it ever so much sweetened. Goethe dwells at some length 
on this very important period of his boyhood, and the in- 
fluences upon his own growth and development which 
arose from Count Thorane's residence in his father's 
house. 

The rooms which the Count occupied consist of one 
large central drawing-room having four windows to the 
street, with rooms opening out of it on each side, that on 
the left having two windows, and the smaller one on the 
right but one. The Count was subject to fits of dejection 
or hypochondria, at which times he would retire for days 
and see no one but his servant. He filled the post of Lieu- 
tenant du Roi, a sort of judge-Advocate, whose business 
it was to decide upon all cases of strife arising between 
soldiers or between soldiers and citizens ; but when his 
hypochondria seized him, not the most urgent cases could 
draw him from the little one-windowed nest to the right 
of the drawing-room, which he had chosen for his 
11 growlery. " The family learned from the servant's gos- 



252 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

sip that the Count once, when this fit was on him, had 
given what he afterward thought a very unrighteous deci- 
sion, and hence his determination to retire entirely at such 
seasons from all participation in human affairs. 

Passing up the stairs from the second to the third floor, 
we notice the monograms J. C. G., C. E. G., in the 
wrought-iron stair railing. We cross the cheerful ante- 
chamber and come to the apartments which the family oc- 
cupied. The division of the rooms is slightly different 
from that on the floor below, the central room being 
smaller, with but three windows, the side rooms having 
each two. The central room was the family drawing- 
room ; here, as has been mentioned, all the pictures were 
hung after the rebuilding, hence it was usually called the 
picture-room." Count Thorane, a great lover of art, 
hearing the picture-room spoken of on the night of his 
arrival, insisted upon seeing it at once, and went over each 
picture with a candle in his hand. To the left of the 
picture-room was the Herr Rath's library, study, and 
special sanctum. Besides its two front windows it has a 
little window in the side wall, giving a good view up the 
street. A few lines in the Autobiography explain its use. 
" I slipped home," Goethe writes, " by a roundabout 
way, for on the side toward the kleiner Kirschgraben my 
father, not without the opposition of his neighbor, had had 
a small guckfenster (peep-hole) made in the wall ; this side 
we avoided when we did not wish him to see us coming 
home." To the right of the picture-room was the Frau 
Rath's sitting-room, and behind and communicating with 
it, looking toward the court, the parents' bedroom — the 
room in which the poet was born — and in the wing, still 
farther in the rear, the children's bedroom. 

On the fourth floor we come to the Mansard rooms — the 
poet's rooms — which require a few words of preface. From 
the time of its sale in 1795 by Goethe's mother until the 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 253 

death of the poet in 1832, the Goethe house seems to have 
been little thought of. But the renewed interest in a great 
man's history which is always awakened by his death, 
brought again into notice the house in which Goethe was 
born. The Roessing family, in whose possession it was, 
were at first very much astonished at the frequent applica- 
tions to see the house. The first one occurred in the 
year after Goethe's death, and, from that time, the num- 
ber of visitors increased da) r by day. There is on the 
fourth floor a small attic room to which some obscure tra- 
dition was attached as having been Goethe's room. The 
Roessings accepted this tradition without investigation, 
and thus for thirty-five years, it was the custom to con- 
duct visitors at once to this little attic and point it out to 
them as Goethe's chamber where he had written his earlier 
works. Of course it was not long before it got the name 
of the Werther-Zimmer, and Bettina von Arnim uncon- 
sciously added to the apocryphal character of her book 
(" Goethe's Correspondence with a Child") by having a 
view of the Werther-Zimmer engraved as a frontispiece to 
it. So striking a confirmation of the supposed fondness 
of the Muses for garrets could not fail to be noted, and 
many a sage visitor doubtless dwelt upon the coincidence 
that the rich man's son must go to the garret to mount 
his Pegasus. But the whole romance of the Werther attic 
has been crumbled in the dust by Dr. G. H. Otto Volger, 
who, with true German patience and industry, has so 
thoroughly investigated every point in connection with the 
Goethe mansion. It is not necessary to follow Dr. Vol- 
ger into all the details of his proof. The chief points are : 
1 st. That the so-called Werther room is not in the gable, 
and has no rooms communicating with it. 2d. That it 
never has a ray of morning sun. In regard to the first 
point, Goethe constantly speaks of his room as a gable 
room (Giebelzimmer), having other rooms communicating 



254 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

with it. In regard to the second point, the fact that 
Goethe's room had the morning sun is established by the 
poet's well-known account of his morning sacrifice to the 
Almighty,- after the Old Testament fashion, when the rays 
of the morning sun, concentrated through a burning-glass, 
were made to light the pastilles on the boy's extemporized 
altar. Dr. Volger selects the long celebrated attic as the- 
place where the silkworms were kept, and where the en- 
gravings were bleached, as so circumstantially described 
in the Autobiography. 

Passing by the Werther room, which is directly to the 
right on reaching the top of the staircase, and crossing the 
antechamber, similar to those on the other floors, one 
comes to the poet's rooms. The central one is a pleasant 
and spacious reception-room, where the son of the house 
could recieve with dignity, and without apology, the friends 
and the visitors of distinction whom the success of 
" Goetz" and of " Werther" attracted to him from every 
quarter. It stands at present bare and cheerless, but we 
can picture to ourselves the simple furniture, the books, 
the pictures, the casts from the antique — heads of the Lao- 
coon group, and of Niobe and her children — and the 
minerals, and the natural curiosities which bore witness to 
the mental activity and versatility of its occupant. The 
house directly opposite is the only one in the Hirschagra- 
ben, except the Goethe mansion, which remains unchanged, 
so that, in looking from the poet's window, the outline 
and general effect of the opposite house are precisely what 
they were when the boy-worshipper stood in the early 
morning light waiting for the sun to peer over its roof and 
kindle his altar fire. This house, in the Goethes' time, 
was occupied by the family Von Ochsenstein, whose sons 
were Wolfgang's playmates. 

The last years of Goethe's residence at home, before 
he accepted the invitation of the Grand Duke of Saxe- 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 255 

Weimar, were those of his early fame as the author of 
" Goetz" and " Werther, " and his growing reputation 
brought many new elements into the family life. Everybody 
of distinction, especially of literary distinction, who came 
to Frankfort, sought the acquaintance of Goethe, and the 
stately house in the Hirschgraben was enlivened by visitors 
of many qualities, who were received with a formal but 
generous hospitality. The old Rath did his best to pre- 
serve a polite silence when sentiments were uttered which 
shocked all his preconceptions, while the mother won all 
hearts by her good-nature, jollity, and sound common- 
sense. The departure of the poet for Weimar made no 
very great change in this respect ; the admirers of the 
poet came to pay their respects to his parents, and a visit 
to Goethe's mother, especially, was looked forward to as 
an honor and a pleasure. The house came to be generally 
known among Goethe's friends as the Casa Santa, a name 
it probably first received from Wieland. 

In 1779 the poet came himself, bringing with him his 
friend, the Grand Duke of Saxe- Weimar. Nobles, trades- 
people, and hotel-keepers were open-mouthed with wonder 
at seeing a grand duke dwelling in a simple citizen's 
house. But the disappointment of the father that his son 
had not followed the path of a jurist, for which he had 
drilled him during his boyhood, was, perhaps, amply 
made up for when the son returned home a Privy-Coun- 
cillor (Geheim-Rath), and brought a grand duke to 
Frankfort as his guest. 

In 1782 the Herr Rath died, in his seventy-second year. 
For thirteen years the Frau Rath lived alone in the 
Casa Santa — nominally, at least, alone, for the stream of 
visitors was almost constant. "lam much more fortunate 
than Frau von Reck," she writes ; " that lady must travel 
about in order to see Germany's learned men, they all visit 
me in my house, which is by far more convenient — yes. 



256 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

yes, those to whom God is gracious, He blesses in their 
sleep." * 

Our visit to Goethe's early home terminates with the in- 
spection of his own rooms on the fourth floor. We return 
to the consideration of what we have ventured to call the 
dramatis persona of the home circle, and having already 
spoken of the father, we now come to the sister and the 
mother. 

The relations between Goethe and his sister Cornelia 
were of the most intimate kind. There was but a year's 
difference in their ages, and they were often taken to be 
twins. They shared together the joys and sorrows of 
childhood, and no new experience was complete until com- 
municated to the other. The brother's departure for the 
University of Leipsic was their first separation, and in 
Wolfgang's absence, Cornelia led a weary life. All the 
father's pedagogy was now exerted upon her. He left her 
no time for social pleasures or for associating with other 
young girls ; an occasional concert was her only relaxa- 
tion. Even the relation of mutual confidence between the 
brother and sister was entirely broken up, as all their let- 
ters passed through the father's hands. It was, therefore, 
not strange when Goethe returned home, after an absence 
of nearly three years, that he found the father and daugh- 
ter living in a state of almost open hostility, and was him- 
self made the confidant of his sister's complaints, and of 
his mother's anxieties in her position of mediator and 
peacemaker. Of his sister Goethe writes : 

* " Ja, ja, wem's Gott gonnt giebt er's im Schlaf " — an idiomatic 
phrase difficult to translate ; a similar one, " Gott giebt es den Sei- 
nen im Schlaf " (God blesses his own in their sleep), is in frequent 
use in Germanv. " Im Schlaf " is used to express anything that 
has been obtained without personal effort ; for example, should any 
one become rich by inheritance or a sudden rise in values, the Ger- 
mans would say, " Er ist reich geworden im Schlaf , ' (He has be- 
come rich in his sleep). 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 257 

" She had by turns to pursue and work at French, 
Italian, and English, besides which he (the father) com- 
pelled her to practise at the harpsichord a great part of 
the day. Writing also was not to be neglected, and I had 
already remarked that he had directed her correspondence 
with me, and communicated to me his teachings through 
her pen. My sister was, and still continued to be, an 
indefinable being, the most singular mixture of strength and 
weakness, of obstinacy and compliance, which qualities 
acted, now united, and now separated, at her own will and 
inclination. Thus she, in a manner which seemed to me 
terrible, had turned the hardness of her character against 
her father, whom she did not forgive, because during 
these three years he had forbidden or embittered to her 
many an innocent pleasure, and she would acknowledge no 
single one of his good and excellent qualities. She did all 
that he commanded or directed, but in the most unamiable 
manner in the world ; she did it in the established routine, 
but nothing more and nothing less ; out of love or favor 
she accommodated herself to nothing, so that this was one 
of the first things about which my mother complained in a 
private conversation with me." 

Cornelia seems to have inherited many of her father's 
traits of character, and the Herr Rath found his own in- 
flexibility matched against the same quality, which had 
been transmitted to his child. 

On Wolfgang's return from Leipsic the old confidential 
relations were resumed between the brother and the 
sister. All their thoughts and feelings were shared ; Cor- 
nelia read his letters from his University friends, and went 
over with him his replies to them. These were the hap- 
piest days of Cornelia's life ; they amount, deducting Wolf- 
gang's absence for a year and a half at Strasburg, to about 
three years and a half. They are most interesting to us in 
connection with Cornelia's influence upon the produc- 



258 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

tion of " Goetz von Berlichingen," as Goethe thus re- 
lates it : 

"I had, as I proceeded, conversed circumstantially 
about it with my sister, who took part in such matters with 
heart and soul. I so often renewed this conversation 
without taking any steps toward beginning work, that she 
at length, impatient and interested, begged me earnestly 
not to be ever talking into the air, but once for all to set 
down on paper that which was so present to my mind. 
Determined by this impulse, I began one morning to write 
without having first sketched out any draft or plan. I 
wrote the first scenes, and. in the evening they were read 
to Cornelia. She greatly applauded them, yet qualified 
her praise by the doubt whether I should so continue ; 
indeed, she expressed a decided unbelief in my persever- 
ance. This stimulated me only the more. I went on the 
next day, and the third ; hope increased with the daily 
communications, and everything, step by step, gained 
more life as I became thoroughly master of the subject. 
Thus I kept myself uninterruptedly at the work, which I 
pursued straight onward, looking neither backward nor to 
the right or the left, and in about six weeks I had the 
pleasure of seeing the manuscript stitched." 

Cornelia's memory is still further associated with her 
brother's first success by the discovery of her portrait 
sketched by Goethe in pencil on the margin of a proof- 
sheet of ' ' Goetz. ' ' A copy of it is given by Professor Otto 
Jahn in his collection of " Goethe's Letters to his Leipsic 
Friends." (See ante, p. 47.) The resemblance to Goethe is 
strongly marked in the prominent nose, and, above all, in the 
large eyes, of which he wrote : " Her eyes are not the finest 
I have ever seen,but the deepest, behind which you expect- 
ed the most ; and when they expressed any affection, any 
love, their brilliancy was unequalled." The face is inter- 
esting, but one that would be ordinarily classed among 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 259 

the very plain. Cornelia became early conscious of this, 
and tormented herself with the conviction that no woman 
without personal beauty could expect to inspire any man 
with love. It does not seem to have occurred to her that 
mental accomplishments might make up for the lack of 
beauty. Probably she had little idea of her own mental 
qualities, the state of isolation in which she was brought 
up having deprived her of the means of comparing herself 
with other girls of her own age, and kept her in ignorance 
of her superiority — a superiority due, first, to her own 
mental powers, and, secondly, to her father's unflagging 
instructions, in her diary, which is given in Professor 
Jahn's book, she indulges at great length in these self- 
tormenting reflections. Hapless Cornelia I the world 
reads this diary, which was her one secret from her 
brother, and which she wrote in French, perhaps with 
the idea that, should it be mislaid, the foreign tongue would 
keep it secret from many. It is addressed to one of her 
female friends. She has been reading " Sir Charles 
Grandison,'' and thus gives utterance to her feelings in 
school-girl French : 

" Je donnerais tout au monde pour pouvoir parvenir 
dans plusieurs annees a imiter tant soit peu l'excellente 
Miss Byron. L'imiter ? Folle que je suis ; le puis-je ? 
Je m'estimerais assez heureuse d'avoir la vingtieme partie 
de l'esprit et de la beaute de cette admirable dame, car 
alors je serais une aimable fille ; c'est ce souhait que me 
tient au cceur jour et nuit. Je serais a blame si je desirais 
d'etre une grande beaute ; seulement un peu de finesse 
dans les traits, un teint uni, et puis cette grace douce qui 
enchante au premier coup de vue ; voila tout. Cependant 
9a n'estpas et ne sera jamais, quoique jepuissefaireet sou- 
haiter ; ainsi il vaudra mieux de cultiver l'esprit et tacher 
d'etre supportable du moins de ce cote-la. " 

Further on : 

" Vous aurez deja entendue que je fais grand cas des 



260 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

charities exterieures, mais peut-etre que vous ne savez pas 
encore que je les tiens pour absolument necessaires au 
bonheur de la vie et que je crois pour cela que je ne serai 
jamais heureuse. . . . Epouserai-je un mari que je 
n'aime pas ? Cette pensee me fait honneur et cependant ce 
sera le seul parti qui me reste, car ou trouver un homme 
aimable qui pensat a. moi ? Ne croyez pas, ma chere, que 
ce soit grimace : Vous connaissez les replis de mon cceur, 
je ne vous cache rien, et pourquoi le ferais-je ?" 

These words show by what sentiments she was actuated 
in accepting the hand of John George Schlosser. Her 
brother's absence at Strasburg had brought back again to 
her the wearisomeness of her home life. Goethe had now 
returned from Strasburg a Doctor-at-Law, bat was soon to 
leave again for Wetzlar in continuation of his juristical 
studies, as marked out years before by his father. Cor- 
nelia saw the world opening to her brother, and felt that her 
only happiness was slipping from her grasp. Her life at 
home without Wolfgang was intolerable to her, and to 
escape from it she accepted the offer of marriage. 

John George Schlosser was an early friend of her brother. 
He was ten years older than Goethe, and when he 
visited Leipsic during Goethe's stay there, the difference 
in age caused the latter to look up to Schlosser as in many 
respects his superior. Schlosser afterward edited a literary 
journal at Frankfort, to which Goethe contributed, and 
the intimate relations with the brother led to the acquaint- 
ance with the sister. 

The bridegroom had been promised an appointment in 
the Grand Duchy of Baden, and expected to be placed at 
Carlsruhe, the capital. But hardly had the newly-married 
pair reached Carlsruhe when they learned that they were 
to reside in Emmendingen, a little village on the borders 
of the Black Forest, where Schlosser was to fill the post of 
Chief Magistrate of the County of Hochberg. Goethe 



The Goethe House at Frankfort, 261 

humorously hints that probably neither the Grand Duke nor 
his ministers cared to come too often in contact with 
Schlosser's blunt honesty, a view which is confirmed by 
Lavater's description of him as a man made to tell princes 
truths which no one else would dare to communicate to 
them. With this very honest and not very lively compan- 
ion, for whom she had no stronger feeling than esteem, 
Cornelia went to her exile in the Black Forest. Schlosser 
was very much occupied with his duties as magistrate, and 
devoted his leisure moments to writing moral and religious 
cathechisms for the people. Rath Geothe said of his son- 
in-law that he seemed never to be done with having books 
printed, and all his friends exerted themselves to moder- 
ate this mania for rushing into print. But, in spite of 
them all, he became a very voluminous writer of books, all 
of which, with the exception of some translations from the 
Greek, have long since gone into oblivion. Fancy a 
woman whose intellectual powers had been aroused and 
developed in the most intimate relations with a mind such 
as the world has rarely known — fancy such a woman shut 
up in the Black Forest with a man who wrote catechisms, 
and replies to Pope's " Essay on Man !" In a town she 
would have gathered about her a circle of which her great 
gifts would have made her the centre. Goethe says : " I 
must candidly confess that when I dwelt often in fancy 
upon her lot I could not think of her as a wife, but rather 
as an abbess, as the head of some honored community. 
She possessed every qualification that so lofty a position 
requires, but lacked those which the world persistently 
demands." In the lonely house in the Black Forest there 
was nothing left for Cornelia but intellectual and social 
starvation, to which was added ill health. She writes : 
" We are here entirely alone ; there is no soul* to be 



That is, no one her equal in education or position. 



262 The Goethe House at Frankfort. ■ 

found within three or four miles. My husband's occupa- 
tions allow him to pass but little time with me, and so I 
drag slowly through the world with a body which is fit for 
nothing but the grave. Winter is always unpleasant and 
burdensome to me ; the beauties of nature afford us here 
our single pleasure, and when nature sleeps, everything 
sleeps." 

Cornelia died in childbed in the fourth year after her 
marriage, leaving two daughters, of whom the younger 
died in her sixteenth year, and the elder married Professor 
Nicolorius. Schlosser survived his wife many years, mar- 
ried again, died, and was buried at Frankfort ; but pitiless 
fate left to Cornelia not even her remote and lonely grave 
at Emmendingen. The grave was obliterated during an 
enlargement of the churchyard, and thus, while the oaken 
coffin containing the remains of Wolfgang Goethe lies in 
state by that of Schiller in the Grand Ducal Vault at Wei- 
mar, the last resting place of Cornelia is not merely un- 
marked, but unknown. 

The most widely-known and loved member of Goethe's 
family was his mother. She possessed the qualities which 
win affection — a joyous temperament, a strong desire to 
please every one, a lively imagination, hearty good nature, 
and great common-sense. Her youth and inexperience 
at the time of her marriage have already been alluded to. 
But she could not long remain a child in the difficult po- 
sition in which she found herself between the children and 
the stern, exacting father. All her energies were bent to 
securing tranquillity in the household, and she was the pilot 
who, with ready skill and quick wit, carried them all safely 
through many a stormy passage. The Frau Rath survived 
her husband twenty-six years, and this was the happiest 
period of her life, when she realized all her fondest an- 
ticipations of her son's genius, and felt -that there was no 
prouder title than that of Goethe's mother. She con- 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 263 

cealed her joy and exaltation behind no thin mask of shy- 
ness, but openly laid claim to the honor she thought her 
due. She was very fond of singing in the circle of her 
friends her son's songs, which had been set to music by 
Reichardt ; the song in Faust " Es war einmal ein 
Konig," she was especially fond of ; she would call upon 
the company to make a chorus, and at the conclusion 
would place her hand upon her heart and proudly ex- 
claim, " Den hab' ich geboren." * 

The coronation of the Emperor Leopold in 1790 filled 
Frankfort to overflowing, and guests were billeted upon 
all the inhabitants. The Frau Rath writes to Friedrich 
von Stein : " The quartermasters have not yet been here. 
Consequently I do not venture outside the door, and in 
this magnificent weather sit as it were in the Bastile, for if 
they should find me absent, they might take the whole 
house ; these gentlemen are confounded quick at taking, 
and when they have once marked rooms, I would not 
advise any one to dispose of them in any other manner." 

Two Mecklenburg princesses were assigned to her, one 
of whom became afterward Queen of Hanover, and the 
other the celebrated Queen Louisa of Prussia. 

The Frau Rath conceived a great affection for these prin- 
cesses, always speaking of them as "my princesses." They 
were afterward taken on a visit to the Elector's Court at 
Mayence, where a lady of high position at the court, Frau 
von Coudenhoven, reproved the Princess Louisa for appear- 
ing with long sleeves, which circumstance, coming to the 
knowledge of Frau Rath Goethe, rilled her with indigna- 
tion. Some years later, when the Princess Louisa had 
become Queen of Prussia, she came to Frankfort, and in- 
vited the Frau Rath to visit her at Wilhelmsbad, near 
Frankfort. The Queen took her to the spring, and had 

Literally, " Him I bore," or as an English-speaking mother 
would probably have expressed it, <4 He is my son." 



264 The Goethe House at Frankfort. 

her sit by her side while the guests came to pay their 
respects. The Frau Rath asked the name of every one, and 
among them was Frau von Coudenhoven. " What ! the 
one who was so cross ? Please your Majesty, order her 
to cut off her sleeves !" exclaimed she in the greatest rage. 

After she sold the house in the Hirschgraben the Frau 
Rath lived in hired apartments in a house on the Ross- 
markt, near the central guard-house. The windows 
looked down the whole length of the Zeil, the principal 
street of Frankfort, and the lively old lady doubtless found 
much companionship in the busy scence. Before she died 
she had spent nearly all of her property. It was once 
suggested to Goethe that his mother should be placed 
under guardianship, a suggestion which he warmly resent- 
ed, declaring that his mother had the right to spend every- 
thing, if she wished, after having borne close restraint so 
many years with the noblest patience. 

She died on the 13th of September, 1808, having given, 
as Goethe relates in a letter to Zelter, the minutest direc- 
tions in regard to her funeral, even to the kind of wine 
and the size of the cakes which were to be offered to the 
mourners. Others have added that she impressed it upon 
the servants not to put too few raisins in the cake, a thing 
she never could endure in her lifetime, and which would 
vex her in her grave. Hearing in the house the voice of 
an undertaker who had come to offer his services, she sent 
him a sum of money, with her regret that the arrangements 
had been already made. 

The churchyard where the members of the Goethe family 
were buried is now a public promenade ; here and there a 
monument or headstone, protected by a paling, remains to 
tell of its former use. The Goethe burial-place had long 
fallen into neglect, and been forgotten, when the centennial 
celebration of Goethe's birthday in 1849 awakened atten- 
tion to it. The position of the Herr Rath's grave could 



The Goethe House at Frankfort. 265 

not be definitely ascertained, but the grave of Goethe's 
mother was found, and a simple stone was placed over it, 
inscribed, " Das Grab der Frau Rath Goethe," with the 
dates of birth and death. The grave is near the outside 
wall of the inclosure, a few rods from one of the gates. 
Few visitors to Frankfort fail to step aside to read the brief 
inscription, and note the appropriateness of the spot. As 
the daughter of a Chief Magistrate of Frankfort, and 
sprung from a family for many years represented in its 
councils, no more fitting burial-place could be found for 
Goethe's mother than in the very heart of the city where 
all her life was passed, and with which she so thoroughly 
indentified herself. The busy life of the city goes on all 
about her grave, roses bloom over it, children play about 
it, and the whole place seems thoroughly in unison with 
the memory of this genial, large-hearted woman, one of 
the flowers of the Frankfort civilization of the last century. 



